The theme of a year not to celebrate any holiday is a bummer when it comes to family holiday, and nations holidays. It probably the hardest time in my life not to celebrate life beyond the church world, and I do not doubt i already messed up this trend probably some point when I began the freedom march against holidays for a year. Holidays mark the season and time period in our life. It brings rememberance of good times and bad. When Israel was in exile they neglected God, because he had sent them there, and no doubt in some areas God's name was not even glorified and Jewish tradition were not always easily remember or celebrated because of lack of spiritual education. A dark time in Israel history, yet with this time frame it was also a reminder of who the people were the bride of God and the mother of faith. The mother of Christ and the bride of Christ. For time Israel was no longer acting as a bride but a harlot. Harlot from the worship of God and celebrating God and who He is. When Israel came out of exile they would be celebrating God and repenting of their sin. Can a bride forget her garment, or what she represents?

The darken years of wandering in the wilderness, and even in exile will only remind a person of the need of God. The wilderness though God lead Israel through the wilderness, they did not submit to him always or willingly but they did so in fear. Submitting should not be of fear but joy and respect to God, but fear perhaps because of who God truly is in power and ability to crush us as ant, if we fail to obey his word. We can find our road in the wilderness or in the road of exile or separation from God til we learn and yearn for God once more. For some people it only took a week for them to miss their church home and family for others it takes months to miss the church and even God in their daily life even during a pandemic.

If we are the body of Christ and Christ is our husband as believers, meaning the one in charge over us, are we willing to submit to Christ and the church? A minister is only a person and part of the church as well, meaning his authority given by God, but it does not make him God. The minister is subject to the church as the church is subject to him, in caring for him and his spiritual needs, and daily living needs. Food, clothing, and shelter is a part of what the church should aid a minister in. Spiritual need, is prayer, love, and friendship and in return these things should be returned and the minister should be example of these things. The church giving to one another as they have need. If you have poor among you, they should not be worried if they have bread to eat or water to drink. Some might worry if they have not the last fades, or other things that are so unimportant. Don't think a kid does not appreciate the latest style, but is it as important as having what you need. Something to keep your feet warm in winters cold and dry in the spring rain.

What then do we say considering the bride is her attire all white, or spotted with the needs within her own door. In the world we live in we see our nation taking care of our nation as best as possible, as will as people within their own borders being first and fore most. These type of things do not win an election, but it make people appreciate their government in difficult times. A church handing out food to those in need, a church caring about each person is only a door of opportunity of meeting a need, not a desire. Can the church in exile submit to the needs of others, can a church see the needs of the church.

Can the church meet the spiritual needs of a church through tape/cd/video ministeries. Can the church meet the physical needs of those attending their church of those in need as well as those outside their church? There first responsibility to the spiritual health of the church and the care for each other, so they show that same love to others outside their building.

If a church strays from the root of Christ they soon follow idols and things that causes separation from God. Does the church pray before every activity, is the church following after the things of God? Has the church stop submitting to God's Spirit living unto themselves and to pagan worship. Our government does well when the money from the church is no longer there, people see the help from the church less and the focus is on how can we change government to be more servanted to our world like the church that is living in adultery through worship of false religion called man. Thinking government is the only bail out. Those that know God and God's hand knows the blessing of God in the middle of a crisis.

The other day I am only reminder if we do not drink our water daily, or have water, God is going to deliver even if it is through a leaky roof. God wants us to seek him for the living water he brings to us. He wants us to seek him and not our government or others for our spiritual needs. We all need help in life from time to time, but our first need meet should be a drink of living water that only God can bring. At one time in our nation history men were almost the only bread winners in the family. Men were the only ones delivering financial freedom of the family. Then the bride step up to the plate in times of war, and times of family struggle. Yet women always sold the things they made. The need of certain things came from who made purple cloth(Dorcas in Acts), to who sold what in the last chapter of Proverbs. Women also trading off the only thing they had to survive and committing adultery instead of seeking the deliver, who gives pain during child birth.

What is my point when we fail to seek God allow him to be in control, to rule the church, people begin to turn from the things of God within the church and seeking alternative help and aid. Who mimics the church, the government, cultures of different groups and people, and even atheist, because they see the power of the church, not understanding real power comes from God and God is in control. The church often mimics the world, that why things are in mess, because church resolves issues by the way the world would and not how God's people should by seeking him.

If the church wants to get it right, this is a fine time to do so, as virus becomes less in our world news, we find some church returning to normal by returning to their sanctuaries and others choosing tarps, and shelters as a fun summer revival event with picnics every Sunday on the lawn as traditions of yesteryear. The chit chat and singings to celebrate a victory of returning to church. The Sunday revival of pot luck and celebrating God's mercy and grace. Let us not leave out a time of repentance and submission to God to leave the things from our church that do not belong, like the traditions of man that prevent the Spirit of God from moving in our church. Let us make sure God is charge and not the wife/the church. Let the church submit to God as the wife and husband submit to each other.

Dear Heavenly Father, may the grace of God be demonstrated through your church as they submit to your will in their life. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Jeremiah 2:1-37 KJV
1 Moreover the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
2 Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown.
3 Israel was holiness unto the LORD, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the LORD.
4 Hear ye the word of the LORD, O house of Jacob, and all the families of the house of Israel:
5 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?
6 Neither said they, Where is the LORD that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, that led us through the wilderness, through a land of deserts and of pits, through a land of drought, and of the shadow of death, through a land that no man passed through, and where no man dwelt?
7 And I brought you into a plentiful country, to eat the fruit thereof and the goodness thereof; but when ye entered, ye defiled my land, and made mine heritage an abomination.
8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.
9 Wherefore I will yet plead with you, saith the LORD, and with your children's children will I plead.
10 For pass over the isles of Chittim, and see; and send unto Kedar, and consider diligently, and see if there be such a thing.
11 Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.
12 Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD.
13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.
14 Is Israel a servant? is he a homeborn slave? why is he spoiled?
15 The young lions roared upon him, and yelled, and they made his land waste: his cities are burned without inhabitant.
16 Also the children of Noph and Tahapanes have broken the crown of thy head.
17 Hast thou not procured this unto thyself, in that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, when he led thee by the way?
18 And now what hast thou to do in the way of Egypt, to drink the waters of Sihor? or what hast thou to do in the way of Assyria, to drink the waters of the river?
19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.
20 For of old time I have broken thy yoke, and burst thy bands; and thou saidst, I will not transgress; when upon every high hill and under every green tree thou wanderest, playing the harlot.
21 Yet I had planted thee a noble vine, wholly a right seed: how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me
22 For though thou wash thee with nitre, and take thee much soap, yet thine iniquity is marked before me, saith the Lord GOD.
23 How canst thou say, I am not polluted, I have not gone after Baalim? see thy way in the valley, know what thou hast done: thou art a swift dromedary traversing her ways;
24 A wild ass used to the wilderness, that snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure; in her occasion who can turn her away? all they that seek her will not weary themselves; in her month they shall find her.
25 Withhold thy foot from being unshod, and thy throat from thirst: but thou saidst, There is no hope: no; for I have loved strangers, and after them will I go.
26 As the thief is ashamed when he is found, so is the house of Israel ashamed; they, their kings, their princes, and their priests, and their prophets,
27 Saying to a stock, Thou art my father; and to a stone, Thou hast brought me forth: for they have turned their back unto me, and not their face: but in the time of their trouble they will say, Arise, and save us.
28 But where are thy gods that thou hast made thee? let them arise, if they can save thee in the time of thy trouble: for according to the number of thy cities are thy gods, O Judah.
29 Wherefore will ye plead with me? ye all have transgressed against me, saith the LORD.
30 In vain have I smitten your children; they received no correction: your own sword hath devoured your prophets, like a destroying lion.
31 O generation, see ye the word of the LORD. Have I been a wilderness unto Israel? a land of darkness? wherefore say my people, We are lords; we will come no more unto thee?
32 Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? yet my people have forgotten me days without number.
33 Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways.
34 Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these.
35 Yet thou sayest, Because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned.
36 Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria.
37 Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them.