My good friend Melvin Croaker at his birthday party back in May on his back porch. I cannot think how to connect the scripture to the picture, so it is just a picture of a good friend who prospered where he was and was a good neighbor to many in this town.
29:7 But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.
Jeremiah tells the Israelites to build homes and prosper where they are and to pray for the welfare of the city because He is with them and they will be able to prosper.
Perhaps the lesson for us to learn is to work hard and be a part of the community no matter where God has placed us or where we may have moved ourselves without consulting Him. The Israelites were famous for turning their backs on a God who continually forgave them. Sounds familiar doesn’t it.
When we include God in all of our decisions, we make good decisions. We can get up in the morning with a bad attitude, rebuke God out of our life decisions and make a real mess out of everything. When we are caught up in secular work, politics, competition of all sorts and just plain old selfishness, we exclude God from being a part of who we are and what we are doing. A bad situation to be in, but one God can get us out of, if we just ask Him to live within us at all times. Jeremiah was telling the exiled Israelites to depend on Him, pray for their enemies and have patience. Sometimes it takes time for things to happen when God is involved. Love Him, never leave Him and He will prosper you too!!!!
Have a blessed week and keep the faith, pray for the place you are living, working and playing in, your welfare depends upon it!!
Randy
Wesley United Methodist Church, Orange TX 
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