...But God

Jeremiah 1: 4-12

Creators and Guests

Host
Chad McBeam
Business Leader, Foster Advocate and Fighter of Human Trafficking, Chad enjoys hosting this podcast channel as a way to spread and highlight the great examples of those who live out their faith daily. He can also be seen on occasion on your TV or Film Screen or be heard narrating one of your books as his love of acting has stuck with him since his childhood.
Writer
Aaron Marcarelli
After getting his under-graduate degree from Cal State University San Bernardino where he played college baseball and received all American honors. he was a graduate assistant baseball coach at both Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville, Tennessee, and at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington.  He received his master’s degree in Teaching from Whitworth, with plans to someday be a head baseball coach at a university.  However, God had other plans.  Aaron started teaching English and History and coaching baseball and other sports at the high school level and found out how much he loves high school kids, and he has been doing that for the past 27 years.     Personally, heI has been married to his wife Sharon for 32 years, they have one daughter, Amanda Parrish, who has been married to Austin Parrish for 2 years. Aaron also has two grandsons Travis age 2 ½ and Aden who is 13 months and are blessed to have another on the way due in May. Aaron loves reading, golfing, and spending time with his wife and grandkids.
LC
Designer
Linda Cowen
Linda Cowen of San Antonio Christian School is our gracious and talented art designer for the But God, weekday morning devotional series.

What is ...But God?

A weekday morning devotional series written by Aaron Marcarelli and hosted by Chad McBeam

“Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” Then I said, “Oh, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, Because I am a youth.” But the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord stretched out His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me, “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. “See, I have appointed you this day over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to tear down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant.” And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “What do you see, Jeremiah?” And I said, “I see a branch of an almond tree.” Then the Lord said to me, “You have seen well, for I am watching over My word to perform it.”
Jeremiah 1:4-12 NASB2020
There is a lot in these verses and we will looking at them for a few days.
This is the beginnings of Jeremiah’s ministry. God told Jeremiah that He knew him before he was formed in the womb. God knew that Jeremiah would be the prophet not only to Israel but to the nations.
I love the audacity of Jeremiah it’s almost like he says “wait, what God, you know I’m a youth right! I mean God just said “I knew you and had plans for you even before you were conceived.” Then God says “Do not say, ‘I am a youth,’ Because everywhere I send you, you shall go, And all that I command you, you shall speak. “Do not be afraid of them, For I am with you to save you,” declares the Lord.”
God says you’re gonna go where I tell you, you’re gonna preach and say what I tell you to say and don’t worry I will be with you every step of the way!
God has a plan and a calling for each and every one of us. The only way Jeremiah was able to fulfill his calling was because he was in tune with God. Jeremiah heard His voice. So often God uses us in ways we never thought he would because we were deficient in some way. Abraham was old, Isaac was a liar, Jacob was a cheater, Joseph was conceited and overconfident, Moses had a stuttering problem, David was too young and too small. The list goes on. The one thing they have in common, they all listened to God and fulfilled His perfect and pleasing will. It often took some time for them to realize what God could do in and through them, but they all got there in the end. They all would have gotten there sooner if they would have listened to God in the first place instead of trying to do it their own way.
Therefore, let us be more like Mary when she heard that she was chosen and favored to be Jesus’ “ima”! “And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.”
Luke 1:38 NASB2020
Allow God to use you and say to God “May it be done to me according to your word!”
Lord, we thank and praise you for calling us to you. Thank you for sending us your son to die for us and also for raising Him up from the dead. We thank you that our sins are forgiven and that we have eternal life with you. Help us to say yes to you. Help us to listen to your still small voice calling out to us. Use us in a mighty way! We pray all these things in Jesus name, Amen…
Shalom blessings and press in and Press On!