His Hand Is Stretched Out Still

Isaiah 9:10 - "The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stones; the sycamores are cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." 

Our pastor has decided to show two DVDs on Wednesday nights. They revolve around Isaiah 9:10 which shows what happened to Israel before the time of Christ. The words spoken in the scripture were the heart of Israel which had been attacked and badly beaten down by their enemy. As Isaiah 9:9 states, the words came out of pride and arrogance. They would show their enemy just how strong a nation they were and that they would rebuild, bigger and better.

As Pastor stated, he is dismayed by how government will quote scripture, often without truly understanding what it means, out of context, just because it sounds good.

I'm writing about a subject I posted a blog on previously. You might read it before finishing this post. At the beginning of Isaiah 9 are words we so often hear at Christmas:

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

You see, what Israel missed, we also as a nation, have missed. Isaiah prophesied that there would come a King, described above. We know that King to be Jesus Christ. If you notice the names He is ascribed, they fit all our needs. He is wonderful, can be our counselor if we learn His statutes. He is our mighty God and everlasting Father. He is also our Prince of Peace. His kingdom, His judgment and justice is just a heartbeat away. And once it comes it is eternal. What He says He will do, He will accomplish, as I mentioned yesterday (Isaiah 55:11).

Oh, how this is all so interconnected. God's Word is so powerful. Nothing was written that has no meaning. Nothing was written idly. Everything was written that we might KNOW. Know Him, know His truth, know His Word. So why are so many not getting it? Is the Church not preaching it? Are we not talking it up? Might it have to do with the same pride and arrogance Isaiah spoke about? That man often believes they are stronger and wiser than God, the Creator of this world, and can live without Him?

So let's see if I can put this into words! Isaiah prophesied about a soon coming King. He would be Israel's all in all. He would lead with His government and there would be peace. But Israel missed the point even though it was right there in those words that they heard in their temples. They missed it because they were looking for that political figure, a mere man, as I mentioned yesterday.

Why did Israel's enemy defeat them? They had turned their backs on God and He allowed their enemy to strike, hoping upon hope they would turn once again turn to Him. Verse 13 shows us this: For the people do not turn to Him who strikes them, nor do they seek the LORD of hosts. When Israel's enemy not only destroyed their buildings but also their land, they became proud and arrogant and decided to rebuild on their own, again, bigger and better. They chose not to seek God in their time of disaster. They did not look to Him for their strength and refuge. They looked only to themselves.

September 11, 2001 was a bit like Israel being destroyed, bricks falling and trees cut down (yes, there was A tree, one of significance). And our nation chose Isaiah 9:10 as their mantra, if you will, to show the people of the world that we would come out of this bigger and better; we would build a new building, maybe make it taller than before. These words were spoken by John Edwards, Tom Daschle, Rudy Guiliani, George Pataki, even President Obama. It was embedded into the very pages of American history. I remember hearing these words eleven years ago and thinking, that's pretty arrogant of us to say. I kept those words pretty much to myself at the time because I thought I would be looked upon as being unpatriotic, as anti-America.

Look at this: …We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense. And for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken -- you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you…  Who might have said these words? Words of defiance, pride and arrogance. Might you be surprised to know it was our President? Not apologize for our way of life?

Like Israel, we have shunned God. We are pushing Him out of schools, removing prayer in public, wanting to remove the name of God from government institutions, and crosses, Christmas trees and Merry Christmas from just about everything. And that doesn't include the societal issues we "embrace." So, was God trying to show us something on September 11, 2001? Was it a warning? Did we hear?

I really don't care anymore who thinks I'm nuts. God is able to do whatever He desires to get our attention. And He has promised judgment upon those who do not seek Him. This is not just a nation but all people.

Are we ready to turn back to God? Are we ready to make Jesus as our only hope? Are we ready to look to Him as Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Are we ready to let Him rule and reign as the King over our lives, to be our Peace?

God loves us so much…He sent His Son to be born, which birth we will celebrate (hopefully not so much with Santa Claus and endless presents) soon. When are we going to fully understand just exactly what Christ's birth was all about? When are we going to really get it? When are we going to seek God for these answers and seek Him for what He also gave His live for…that we might have eternal life.

God tells us that His anger will not be turned away, but His hand will be stretched out still (Isaiah 9:17c). Do you hear that? His anger will continue, but God…still loves us so much and will relent if we, as people and a nation, will turn our hearts to Him for the first time or return to Him. He loves us that much that He will forgive if we repent of our sins as individuals and as a nation.

Those words are repeated for extra measure. Can we get this?

For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still. (Isaiah 9:21, 10:4)

God's Word

Zechariah 1:6 - But did not my words and my decrees, which I commanded my servants the prophets, overtake your ancestors? "Then they repented and said, 'The Lord Almighty has done to us what our ways and practices deserve, just as he determined to do.'"

As usual, the words leapt off the page. All of the five verses previous to this were Zechariah receiving more of this word from the LORD directed to the people of Israel, God's chosen people.

These words, as I have often stated, are for us today too. Just because they are Old Testament scriptures for the Jewish people, they are for us too. The Old Testament, miraculously, by God!s hand, shows us from beginning to end who He is, what He desires and requires...and how to know the Word, who is Jesus. God's Word has been written for us to learn from. And what has happened all throughout the pages will happen again. The Bible is God's Word. His Word is truth.

This is why we need to know what is in there. It's why we need to have it in our hearts and before us at all times, like the frontlets the Jewish priests would wear: “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. (Deuteronomy 6:6-8) The priests literally wore little boxes (phylacteries) that held words of the Torah that His Word would forever be before them.

Oh, that more people today would do that. Not that we wear the words, but consume them, take them in, that they be understood, taken to heart, used as a tool for right living.  Taste and see that the LORD is good, Psalm 34 says.

These words above are saying: yet surely My words...the words spoken by the prophets (and included in the Bible)...God's words through these men...were spoken to admonish, prophecy and teach. They are forever words because the Word of God is timeless.

The people of Israel dismissed the words and as God had told them, the thing He had said happened, just as He said it would. Overtake here means to come upon suddenly. Don't you think if it happened then it will now? If we don't take His word seriously we could see what He has warned us about take place for us too.

I think we are seeing it all around us today. What will tomorrow hold? Just look at the Word to find out... It stands to reason that all God's words will some day be so clear. There are many today who see it happening. There are also many who don't.

It's by God's Spirit that these words are opened to us. This is truly one of the glorious mysteries of God. God's Spirit in someone isn't there to make one greater than another. It's a blessing...one which anyone can have...through a relationship with Christ. That's all it takes!

When we heed the Word of God we are in His protection and provision. Will we be perfectly obedient? I wish I could say yes. But we won't be. We are still human with human frailties. If we were perfect we wouldn't need a Savior. Only He is the perfect, spotless Lamb of God.

God's Word repeatedly pleaded: "Return to Me." Will we as a people, as a nation or world return to Him? Here's His promise: ...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2Chronicles 7:14)

He will heal the land but He will heal the person too. He will heal the person first. That's the most important thing He'll do. He'll set your feet on solid ground that you will not sink in the time of trouble. He will be the Rock. He will set your future for you that no matter what transpires, you will be assured of a good end. God says He has good plans for us, to prosper us, not to harm us, to give us hope and a future, a future secure in the knowledge that we will live with Him forever in the peace we've always dreamed of, the only true hope for peace...that man cannot give.

Jeremiah 29:11 - For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Rend Your Heart

Joel 2:12-13 - “Now, therefore,” says the LORD, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.

There are so many commands like this in the Bible that are just as important for us today as then. So many commands to turn back to God. Why is it so difficult to do?

We are doing the Book of Esther in Women's Ministries. A little background information is necessary: Israel had once again turned from God and He allowed His people to be taken captive by Persia (Babylon). As these Jews lived in Persia they, although probably not all, fell into the "pagan" lifestyle, further distancing themselves from God. After 70 years the then king of Persia allowed the Jews to return to their land. Some did, but some stayed.

Why Esther and her cousin Mordecai's family stayed I don't know. Perhaps Mordecai had a good job (at the king's gate) and chose to stay. He did, however, remain a godly man.

Further explanation: Because Mordecai retained godly principles, he refused to bend his knee to the king's right hand man, Haman. He bowed only to God. Because of this action and Haman's anger, a decree was suggested by Haman, and approved by the king, that all Jews were to be killed. Most likely it was God's purpose he and Esther be there "for such a time as this." For such a time as for God to show His love for His people that they might turn their hearts once again to Him. 

Things happen in the course of events even today that are surely meant to draw us back to God, to save us from impending illness or disaster, that His kindness and mercy can be shown to us. It happens individually or corporately. It can happen in A church or THE Church. It can happen in a country or the world. There's no limit to where He wants to work. But He's always at work attempting to open our eyes that we might receive Him, for the first time, or again. We might be seeing it happening around us right now.

To receive Him we are called to rend our hearts. In those days rending garments was what was done. They would tear their garments and put on sackcloth and ashes to show they were in mourning. They would openly grieve. They would fast. All part of the repentance. In Joel 2:14 it is asked "Who knows if He will turn and relent?" Who knows? Only God knows. Today the question might be who knows if God can turn this country around? We may be beyond saving. He may have decided it's too late and judgment will come upon us. But we can keep praying for an entire country's heart to change and turn back, like Israel. We can pray that our "king(s)" would return to God. Thankfully even if the country doesn't turn back, it's never too late for us as individuals. Circumstances around us may cause us to turn...

In Esther the same question was raised to her: Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Mordecai was posing the question whether she might be being used of God to save her people, that's why she was made queen...and it's something she could not let slip by. We each might be here for such a time as this. We might each be used by God to turn someone's heart to the Lord. It is our calling, after all, as followers of Christ.

Mordecai was rending his clothes and no doubt his heart. Would Esther stand up to what was clearly required of her? Another blog will explain this!

In Merriam's dictionary, as well as the Hebrew definition of the word, rend is pretty obvious: to remove from place by violence, to wrest; to tear (the hair or clothing) as a sign of anger, grief, or despair. To rend our hearts! To let ourselves know and feel the grief we have caused God for our lack of trust and obedience to Him in our own lifetimes. If we do this the healing will begin as He receives our heart-felt emotions. And the healing is so tender and peaceful. It happens when one receives Christ.

What God is requiring of all people is that humble and contrite heart and spirit to return to God, to seek Christ for salvation. He's looking for it within each of us as well as in this country. If we do this He will be beside us. When will we ever get it? When will people ever do it? Without Him we are nothing, can do nothing of true value. And yet...we are told the road is narrow...few will be on it.

Psalm 34:18 - The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.

Contemplation?

 Jeremiah 2:17–19 -

     Have you not brought this on yourself,

     In that you have forsaken the LORD your God

     When He led you in the way?

     ...Your own wickedness will correct you,

     And your backslidings will rebuke you.

     Know therefore and see that it is an evil and bitter thing

     That you have forsaken the LORD your God,

     And the fear of Me is not in you,”

     Says the Lord GOD of hosts.

Pretty harsh words the prophet Jeremiah speaks. I mentioned not too long ago that Jeremiah was named the weeping prophet because his heart was so saddened by Israel's turning away from the God that had provided for them. Bear with me as my thoughts bounce  around!

Our pastor, Rory Grooters, mentioned briefly last night that although we sometimes think we have brought ourselves provision, it is ultimately God who does. It just depends on one's understanding. He is the One who has created us and gifted us. We really cannot take credit for it. But who do we give credit to, ultimately?

Last week we had Black Friday. The phrase itself conjures up, at least in my mind, something akin to a plague. I thought about the thousands of people willing to stand in line in the dead of night for those bargains the day after Thanksgiving. I think about the injuries involved. Total madness!! I think even more about how retailers are profiting even when we think we have gotten a bargain. 

Those thoughts reminded me of the money changers in Christ's day, the bankers of that time. It angered Jesus. He threw them out. He shouted. He called them thieves. These money changers could charge whatever they desired to make a profit. Hmmmm, sounds familiar. When is enough enough?

But it’s not just about the retail business. We have become a society of selfishness. Period. Selfishness is a sin. Period. Me, me, me. Are these purchases needs or wants? I'm just as guilty here, so this time of contemplation is for me as well. I cannot cast the first stone!

When did this time of year change from a time of contemplating Christmas to a shop till you drop mentality? When did Christ get shoved aside for self? Oh, I know some are shopping for that perfect gift for friends and family, but does anyone walk away without that perfect want of their own? I've heard and read that this is always the most stressful time of year with all the galavanting to shop! It should be the most peaceful...contemplating Christ and His glorious birth. It's what we make of it.

When did Christ get removed from Christmas? Today it's no more to some than that holiday we so cringe to hear about. It's not so much about contemplating Christ. I will probably say this every year. So I guess the word holiday is quite appropriate for today. 

A sure sign that the last days are at hand. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud...(2Timothy 3:2). One day He will return and those who ignored Him will be ignored by Him. We have been fully warned repeatedly throughout the Bible. It's what we choose to want to hear...it's all about choice.

What's more important, our spiritual life or this life on earth? Some might say live it up now because a day will come when we cannot. But God/Jesus' view is just the opposite. It's the eternal life we are to live for. Eternal life does not come with selfishness today. It comes with self-sacrifice.

Do we want the earthly things today that rust and moth destroy or do we want those things that will never fade because they are rooted and grounded in Christ? It takes time and effort to know the things of God. It takes a willingness and time to do that so we will not hear: Matthew 7:22-23 - Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

"You and I can open our minds to hear the great and unsearchable things we do not know, things like the Incarnation that we may never fully understand but are always invited to know further. Or we can simply look for all of Christmas to correspond with societal whims and unconscious distractions." - Jill Carattini, managing editor of A Slice of Infinity at Ravi Zacharias international Ministries, Atlanta, Georgia. Yes, we MUST open our minds to seek the true meaning of Christmas, to see Christ in it.

I've been out and about the past couple of days, preparing my own table for a women's event. As I've been chasing I've been questioning my own Christmas motives. We will not be home for Christmas this year so decorating, putting up a tree or all the necessities of Christmas decorations are not a priority. I'm not against any of these things, but my thoughts this year have been, What if we didn't have all this stuff to do Christmas? Would the true meaning be greater or less? Where is Christ in the Christmas tree and ornaments and flashing lights? Can't we celebrate His humble birth without all the glitz and glitter, without being the first on the block to get their house lit up, tree lighted and decorated, the shopping done and the cookies baked? Do we really need all this?? But I still give in a bit...

I know I could handle Christmas without all this. It's about contemplating His birth. It’s about sitting at His feet like Mary while Martha "slaved" in the kitchen. (If you don’t know the story click here for an explanation.) It's about contemplating why it was so important that He be born humbly. It's not about trees, lights, tons of presents. It's about Him.

Maybe I sound like Scrooge this year, but I guarantee I'm not. I DO have gifts to buy or make. I do have baking to do. I will succumb to a handful of decorations, but this year they will be reminders of Christ. Peace, joy, love...keeping Christ in Christmas...I'm even going so far as to get the star of Bethlehem situated on our driveway lamp post today. 

This is just how I feel this year. I want to contemplate even more about Jesus, give out His love this season. I want to thank Him that, as Pastor also prayed last night, He as the Creator became the Created.

Let us not forsake the LORD our God this Christmas season. Let us draw near to Him that He might draw near to us...as families and a nation...that He would not depart from us but He would recognize that we have not forsaken Him. If we have backslidden, there’s still time to turn around. Wickedness, too, can be forgiven. Let’s let go of selves and grab hold of Jesus. It all starts with first our own heart change.

Let us dig deeper into our own knowledge of Him and embrace Him into our lives. Let us truly seek Him for our eternal lives over this earthly life. He came to earth to be the reconciliation between our Heavenly Father and us. He was born with the intent to one day die for our sins. While we celebrate His birth, let us consciously think on why He did this. Let us be thankful He came from Heaven to come to this sin filled earth...just for us.

The LORD watched over His people Israel so long ago until they abandoned Him. Let us not be that same generation today in our inability to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, the One for whom this season is all about. He came to earth to lead us to our Heavenly home. Does He do this for you today? Read the following scripture by adding “me” instead of “him” and make it present tense. Is this you? Contemplate...

Deuteronomy 32:10 - He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye...

Our Choice, Our Consequence

2Chronicles 33:12-13 - Now when he was in affliction, he implored the LORD his God, and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers, and prayed to Him; and He received his entreaty, heard his supplication, and brought him back to Jerusalem into his kingdom.

A glorious Sunday at church. Our pastor, Rory Grooters, returned from a relatively short but serious illness and had an amazingly powerful sermon on King Manasseh's Reversal. We can all benefit from hearing about Manasseh! Although the personal account I have to share is minimal compared to Manasseh, there is a connection. Praise God for His mercy!

Israel had determined they wanted a king to rule over them, like other nations, not their godly priests. So God gave them their desire. (Sort of like the United States which has chosen for a "king" instead of looking to God like our founding fathers.) 

King Manasseh was one of the many kings the people of Israel chose. He was the king of Judah. His reign began at age 12 and as we read in the account in 2Chronicles 33, he did evil in the sight of God, for about 50 years! 

As Pastor Rory told us: sin will swallow us up and God will let it happen. Why? Because He honors free will choices. He gives us free will to choose when we have options. And sometimes the wrong choice is made and the consequences are felt later. The wrong choice WILL have consequences. 

So what did Manasseh do that was so wrong? In a nutshell he rebuilt previously torn down high places where idol worship took place, rather than worshiping the one true God. He raised up altars for these idols and served them. He went so far as to built these altars in the house of the LORD. And to top things off, he sacrificed his own sons to these gods! He practiced soothsaying, used witchcraft and sorcery and consulted mediums and spiritists. All practices God abhors. God tried to speak to him and the people but they refused to listen.

God allowed the consequence of Manasseh's actions: He was captured by the enemy. And when he felt the affliction, the consequence of his action, he turned to God for help. He repented of his deeds...and God heard him...and He forgave him. How in the world could God forgive his deeds? Don't we sometimes wonder how God can forgive us? Even if it is over and over. It's a mystery.

So, as a follow up to Friday's blog on the heartbeat of God, staying close to Him so we hear it...we also pay the consequences of unrest and confusion when we are not spending the time we should with Him. It's a choice all right. The enemy captures us, we feel the affliction, receive the consequences of our action(s). 

But God...who doesn't leave us or forsake us, nudges us to repentance. He hears and then forgives. Oh, we might not be in Manasseh's shoes but we have forsaken our first Love...even if momentarily. He is ALWAYS ready to take us back. ALWAYS. And we must not ever feel too ashamed to do so. We must not let vain imaginations or insecurities prevent us from returning. We will always have a sin nature in us. But God...has given us Jesus Christ to cover that by His blood and He has filled us with His Holy Spirit...and offers His mercy and grace.

So here is what the Lord spoke to me at the end of service during a time of prayer:

I am waiting for You. Return to Me. Seek Me. Fear not because you are written in the Book of Life. You are engraved in the palm of My hand. Fear not because you can do anything through Me. If you humble yourself, I will be faithful to forgive. Fear not--you are My child who strays but I know you do not want to. Just return, repent, come back to your loving Father, Savior and Friend. I know you don't understand all I had to go through just for you. Don't try to understand; just know I did. I love you with more love than you could possibly know. I AM jealous after you. Don't let your insecurities take first place--My Spirit is in you. MY Spirit. All my children are in different places and seasons in their walk with Me. No one is better than another. Do not compare yourself with another. You are where you need to be and that comes from My lips. Just return to Me.

Quite a far cry from the sins, the evil, the wickedness of Manasseh, but even the slightest deviation from Him is sin and disobedience. Thankfully, His mercy is new every day and remember the consequences...that dry spell, that emptiness, that confusion. But God...

If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin... If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (2Chronicles 7:14 and 1John 1:9)

Remember Me

Jeremiah 3:1b - "...you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return to Me" says the LORD.

God grieves for today's people like He did in Jeremiah's time. All He wants for those He has created and has given life to, to return to Him. The following comes out of Jeremiah 3-5. This is God's heart for His people...for us. Remember, He so loved the world and He loves us, but He's also willing to judge just to get us to return to Him. This word, God's word, in my words, is for our nation, like it was for Israel.

You have backslidden but I am merciful and will not remain angry forever. Just acknowledge your sin, that you have forsaken Me and gone about your own ways, seeking things that do not profit: control, power, money, greed, which are all forms of idolatry and self-centeredness.

What happened to "we the people, by the people, for the people?" When did it become all about you and not about what I can do? When did you lose your faith in Me? Why?

Return to Me, "for I am married to you...I will give you shepherds to feed you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:14). My knowledge and understanding, not man's.

I bring unity and peace spiritually if only you will accept it. Return to Me now, lest you forget Me entirely. Return to Me that you may receive your salvation. Return to Me that you may be healed. Without me you do not have these. I cannot be just a passing thought on an occasional day. I must be part of your daily living. I must be your main Source of life, your Bread, your Living Water, your Wisdom, your Love.

Return to Me and your shame will be removed. Obey My voice and see what wondrous things will happen. Return to Me and you will be secure in Me. You will have all you need...I will bless you.

Return to Me. Assemble, gather and become one in heart, mind and soul. Don't let your evil thoughts and ways destroy you. Return to Me and avoid My judgment. Turn your back on Me and My judgment will reach into your souls and you will know destruction therein. Remember, I came to give you peace. Return to Me and receive that peace.

As I created out of love but out of disappointment and anger at a people who have rejected Me I am able to destroy. Remember the Flood. Neither your possessions nor your weapons will save you. I am greater than these. Return to Me.

If anyone seeks the truth, let him come forth and I will pardon you. Will anyone come and know Me again? Will anyone find truth? Will anyone return to Me? I do not want to grieve you nor strike you...but...you have burst the bonds of my commands and gone your own ways, seeking your own gods.

Return to Me, the One who clothed you, fed you, protected you. I have done these things yet you believe you have done this on your own, without My help. Scoffers believe no harm will come against them, yet I will rise up. I will send a mighty, ancient nation whose language you do not understand. They will destroy yet I will not make a complete end of you. There will be a remnant. But as you have forsaken Me for a time, I will forsake you and allow you to fight your own battles until you understand where your help comes from.

Let your eyes see and ears hear. Return to Me. Look again for truth. Seek the truth of who I am that you may be blessed.

We who know Christ need not be troubled (John 14:27). Jesus promises "My peace I leave with you." Return to Me is His plea. Know Me, is His request. I am your peace in difficult times is His promise to those who seek and know Him. Just return to Him, call on Him when you are troubled and His peace will He give you. Not the world's idea of peace, but His supernatural peace. Not the idea of worldly security, but security in God alone. Faith should be in Him alone.

But what will you do in the end? ...return to Me and I will return to you...if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land...You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon You. (Jeremiah 5:31b, 2Chronicles 7:1,Psalm 86:5)