Kathy, In reading those scriptures, I can see how they are totally related
to your's and Greg's situation with Chris. I couldn't believe how it really
was totally related, and isn't God's word so wonderful!

Praying for you in this situation, and praying for God's will to be done,
and for strength for you and your family, through Jesus Christ.

Love and Blessings,
Pat Ferguson

At 09:44 AM 8/27/2005, you wrote:
>Hey guys,
>         You know how you are just reading along in your bible, kind of
>thinking, "same old, same old," and then, you have one of those great
>moments when something leaps out at you?  Actually, I have those a
>lot.  I do really enjoy reading scripture, but I have read Jeremiah
>so much that I was kind of taking it for granted when, all of a
>sudden, one of those moments struck.  I just felt like sharing
>it.  It may not speak to you, but when I shared it with Greg, he got
>the point as well.  Just think about our situation with Chris and I
>think that you'll see what I mean.
>
>         This is what the Lord says:  "Restrain your voice from weeping and
>your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded," declares the
>Lord.  "They will return from the land of the enemy.  so there is
>hope for your future," declares the Lord.  "Your children will return
>to their own land."
>         "I have surely heard Ephraim's moaning:  "You disciplined me like an
>unruly calf, and I have been disciplined.   Restore me, and I will
>return, because you are the Lord my God.  After I strayed, I
>repented; after I came to understand, I beat my breast.  I was
>ashamed and humiliated because I bore the disgrace of my youth."  Is
>not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight?  Though I often
>speak against him, I still remember him.  Therefore my heart yearns
>for him; I have great compassion for him," declares the Lord.
>Jeremiah 31:16-20
>
>I hope that you can get the gyst of this with all of the quotes and
>stuff.  I'm sorry that screen readers don't really do the passage
>justice.  I felt like, instead of God speaking about Ephraim, this
>passage could have been me talking about Chris.  The great thing, for
>me at least, is the hope offered in this passage.  I really need
>that.  Chris desperately wants to  move out.  We had tried to put
>three conditions on his release from our home.  We asked him to pay
>us what he owes us, save up $1,000 for a cushion, and wait to talk to
>his probation officer.  Yesterday, however, thanks to the help of
>Nicki's grand mother, Chris has found an empty efficiency in her
>building.  The land lord is willing to negotiate the deposit and rent
>and Chris is acting like it's a done deal without meeting our
>conditions or receiving our approval.  I'd be more than happy to just
>let him go except that we are still legally responsible for him for
>another 66 days and I don't want to do anything without the blessing
>of the probation officer.  Anyway, If you see this passage about
>Chris instead of Ephraim, the land of the enemy is pretty obvious
>and, I pray that home means his return to Jesus.  What I did
>appreciate, however is remembering once again how God really does
>know and empethize with our struggle.
>God bless,
>Kathy