Introduction

just take a brief exaimination and allow history to breeze through your thoughts and minds and then you may proclaim today without any hestation that "* The Lord has been good". Last year in there had been some tragedies in someones life. Hardship & pain had overtaken joy and happiness. Somebody may have been on the verge of giving up......ect. In spite of everything I have been through I know that the Lord has been good.

Here in the text Jeremiah had seen some rough days God's people had turn from Him, death all around,...... Jeremiah even felt that that God had turn His back on him. In verse [17] Jer. stated that things were so bad and so stressful that the peace I thought I shoul have is nowhere to be found. It was not within reach or view.

Has anyone been there?

Have you ever been so messed up until you did not know which way to go? Victory is right at the door but you can't seem to reach it. Jer. says that things got so bad I forgot prosperity. Last year may have brought some hard financial times, bad emotional experience, ......ect. By the time December came you forgot that you had a good day. There are times we may feel that we will never recoer from a lost or a devastated disposition, but just hold on.

Jeremiah said in verse [18-20] I gave up everything even my strength and my hope, everyday y mind wonders off and I just gloot in my misery. Everday that I live I regurgitate my bitter defeats I have with life. Everyday something or someone reminds me of my pain and I really didn't care if I saw another year......ect. Just when you feel like giving up God sends you something maybe a little encouragement, hope,....ect. In verse [21] Jer. says "This I recall to my mind" Therefore, or as a result I have hope. Before you give your sad story just stop and recall, before you give up, (stop & recall) .....ect. You will find out that the Lord has been good..........ect.

What Did Jeremiah Recall?

I. HE RECALLS THAT HIS LIFE HAS ALWAYS BEEN IN GOD'S HANDS: VS. 22

Whatever, you have been through good or bad has been under the control of God. ven the time you lost you love one & you thought you could not make it, when money got low and bills got higher - God was still in control. When your child may have seemed uncontrolable, unable to talk to God still He had it under control. What we found out is that each day God gives us more strength to make it.......ect.

In verse [22] Jer. recalls during his trying times at the peak of his stage of self destruction and vulnerblity, he says "It is the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed". This suggest that whatever I may have been going through could have been worse but because of ''God's grace".........ect.

II. JEREMIAH RECALLS THAT EVERYDAY BRINGS A SECOND CHANCE: VS. 23

We should not be so consumed and brought down by the troubles of today until we can't see the blessings of tommorow. Our lives has not taken that big of a turn whereas, God's mercies can not reach. [verse 23] says that God's mercies and compassions are new every morning. Before you wake up He's given you {"New Mercy"}* It's when you roll over in the bed at night to get a better sleeping position, when you wake up and the sun is shining, when you are able to breath & swallow at night while you sleep.....ect. This mercy is an aspect of God's loving kindness and favor on those who can not do for themselves.

Everyday I recieve a NEW FAVOR from the Lord. Another Chance......ect.

III. HE RECALLS THAT HE HAS AN INHERENTANCE THAT WILL NEVER BE FORFIETED: VS. 24

Never allow your problems or sorrows to overshadow God's goodness and blessing to you. Don't let last year problems be this years defeat. As we enter into a New year, new begining, leet us be assured that God loves us and when we think that our troubles are too much for us to bare-"Just think of His goodness to You". Recall to your mind the times that He has all ready brought you through..........ect.

Jer. recalls this one last thing in [verse 24] is that "the Lord is my portion". This portion suggest first that whatever troubles that I may have the Lord can and will make my rough places plain, and my crooked roads sraight. The Lord said in [Isaiah 7] that His people would not have to always suffer that their blessing is cming and His name shall be Emnauel.

He came down 42 generations. He brought with Him past down through the generation my inherentance [John 3:16]

When He died my sins died also. When He was buried my problems, trouble and all stress was buried also. He smooth my way - when He rose- ere comes my inherentance. i believe in Jesus the Christ "!Look what the Lord has done"

Portion also suggest & translate to is Partner. The Lord is with me wherever I go.

The Lord is:

My main man, my ace-boon-coon, my right hand, the legs I stand on, the Lord is the butter on my bread, The Lord is my Portion. He is always with me whatever I may go through. Whatever problems that I may face He is already there.