Jeremiah-An Assassination Plan Built on Greed

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 40, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy - Delicious grapes

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon appointed Gedaliah to be governor over Jerusalem.

Gedaliah was a kind man. He sent messages to the Jews who fled to caves, fields, and nearby countries telling them they could and should come home. They would be able to harvest the crops and live in peace.

The people did return. They harvested a great deal of wine and summer fruit. Everyone seemed happy and content.

Gedaliah reassured the soldiers who had been left behind, "Do not be afraid to serve the Babylonians. Settle down in the land and serve the king of Babylon and it will go well with you. I myself will stay in Mizpah to represent you before the Babylonians who come to us. You may harvest the wine, summer fruit, and oil and put them in your storage jars. Live in the towns you have taken over. You will see. All will be well."

Johanan, one of the officers said, "Gedaliah, did you know that Baalis, king of the Ammonites has sent Ishmael, son of Nethaniah to take your life?"

Gedaliah shook his head. "This isn't so. We are living in peace here and have harvested plenty of food. No. I don't believe Ishmael will."

Johanan leaned close to Gedaliah and whispered. "I care about you. You are doing a good job. Let me go and kill Ishmael and no one will know it. Why should he take your life and cause all the Jews who have returned to be scattered again, and the few men and women left from Judah to die? Please. I'll stop him!"

Gedaliah shook his head again. "Look, Johanan. I know you mean well. But don't do such a thing. What you are saying about Ishmael is simply not true."

For several months the people lived in peace, just as Gedaliah said.

Until...

Come back to see what happened next.
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1.  Who did King Nebuchadnezzar appoint to govern Judah?
2.  Was he a good governor?
3.  Who did Johanan say wanted to kill the new governor?
4. The governor didn't believe Johanan. The people had everything. What did the governor say to Johanan?
5.  So the people lived in peace under the rule of King Nebuchadnezzar and his governor. Do you think Johanan was wrong?

Amy Carmichael-Alone in A Foreign Country and Soaking Wet

By Mary Vee

Year: 1893 

Amy Carmichael: 26 years old

From Amy's Journal

My name is Amy. 

Traveling seems like a lot of fun at first. 

When the journey takes months, though, a few breaks makes the trip a lot easier. 

Three missionary ladies sailed with me from England to the island of Ceylon. We rested then set sail for Shanghai. This was where the missionary ladies would work. I spent several days in Shanghai at the China Inland Mission waiting for a letter from the missionaries in Japan who needed my help.

I was both excited to get the letter to be on my way, and happy to rest in the missionary's home in China.

The letter finally arrived one afternoon. I packed my belongings and said goodbye to the kind missionaries who took care of me then boarded the Yokohama Maru for Shimonoseki, Japan. Compared to my journey so far, this should be a short ride. Only 581miles. 

The sun shone and the sea was calm. This would be an easy trip across the sea. I hadn't suffered any sea sickness the whole journey from England. The gentle seas should keep my stomach happy.

Photo Courtesy

We hadn't left shore very long before a terrible storm appeared on the horizon. The captain shouted orders to his crew in a language I couldn't understand. 

Photo Courtesy

The waves grew taller, rocking the ship. Rain fell on the deck with such force it soaked my clothes in seconds. I went below deck to keep from being tossed overboard. 

Photo Courtesy

As we reached the city of Shimonoseki, Japan, the captain shook his head. He did not want to bring the ship close to shore for fear we would crash.

A tug boat sailed out to us and pulled close to the side. All the passengers held tight to the ropes as the crew lowered us on to the tug boat. 





As soon as the last passenger landed on the deck of the tug, it set sail for the shore. I couldn't understand any of the words, but the meaning seemed clear. Danger.

The tug bounced up and down and side to side. I grabbed onto metal to keep from being thrown to the deck. The captain pulled the tug close to the shore and tied the boat to a dock. 

The other passengers picked up their belongings and walked down the dock to the shore. No one said a word to me. 

I expected to be greeted by the English missionary. There were no English faces in the crowds. The rain poured, dripping off my hat and soaking my dress and my shoes. I didn't know what to do.

"Can anyone speak English?" I shouted.

No one answered me.

"I'm Amy Carmichael. Can anyone help me?" I yelled over the sound of the storm.

No one answered me. I sat on my trunk and let the rain drench me. 

Alone. In a foreign country. Unable to speak the language. And soaking wet.

Sigh.

Come back next time. I have much more to share!


Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Jeremiah-No One is Near To Comfort Me

By Mary Vee
Lamentations

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

Most of the people are gone. 

I've never heard this eerie silence in the streets before. 

I warned the people that God would punish them as He said, but they were persuaded by the false prophets who told them nothing would really happen. The false prophet's lies convinced the people they didn't need to do as God commanded.

And now they are gone. 

Marching in chains. Prisoners of the Babylonian army. Soon to be slaves to the people of Babylon. 

Photo Courtesy

My eyes overflow with tears. No one is near to comfort me. No one is here to restore my spirit. The men and women who once lived here are destitute because the enemy has won.

Not one of the countries that surrounds us has offered to help. Instead they all think the people of Judah are evil and deserve this punishment.

The enemy entered our sanctuary, places the people of Jerusalem were not even allowed to go. They took the treasures intended for God and laughed at the destruction.

And now when Jerusalem sees they have sinned greatly, it is too late. The city has fallen and there is none to comfort them. The roads to Zion mourn the loss of her people because no one comes to celebrate the feasts. The gateways are empty. The city is in bitter anguish.

All the splendor of Jerusalem is gone because of the sins of the people. Joy is gone from our hearts. Our dancing has turned to mourning.

Woe to us, for we have sinned.

I cannot see from all my weeping. I am tormented within. My heart is poured out on the ground because my people are destroyed.

Photo Courtesy

The false prophets misled the people. They listened.

The enemy makes fun of us and cheers.


Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.

I will say to myself, in all this trouble, I will wait for the Lord.

Though he brings punishment, he will show compassion. So great is his unfailing love.

O Lord, you took up my case. You redeemed my life from the false prophets.

Sadly, though, the people are gone.


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1.  What did Jeremiah warn the people
2.  What did the false prophets say?
3.  Who did the people believe?
4.  Where did the people go and why?
5.  Why did Jeremiah weep?

Jeremiah-In the Middle of All the Trouble, God Spoke to Me

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 39, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

So much has happened, I'm not surprised I couldn't sleep last night. 

The Babylonian soldiers took most of the people living in Jerusalem to be slaves and marched them to Babylon. 

I am still in the prison in the courtyard of the guard. All around me buildings are being ruined and people dragged away. And in the middle of all the trouble, God spoke to me.

God said to me, "Go find Ebed-Melech the Cushite."

Ebed-Melech was the man who saved me from the cistern. Do you remember when the false prophets talked King Zedekiah into punishing me for saying God's messages? They lowered me into a deep, dark cistern. The muck came up to my waste. I couldn't move. Ebed-Melech found out what happened to me. He ran--and he was a fast runner--to the king and talked Zedekiah into allowing my rescue. He said, "You can't do this to a prophet of God."

Because he saved my life, God had this message for him, "Ebed-Melech, I am about to fulfill my words against this city through disaster, not prosperity. At that time they will be fulfilled before your eyes. But I will rescue you on that day. You will not be handed over to those who you scare you. I will save you. You will not fall by the sword but will escape with your life. This is because you trust in Me."

Ebed-Melech was grateful. 

With chains binding me, I had walked with the other captives from Jerusalem and Judah as far as Ramah. The soldiers were taking us to Babylon to be slaves. I didn't sleep very well that night. Neither did any of the others. We had no way to escape.

The sun rose the next morning. My mouth had a dry nasty taste. The soldiers woke the others and told us to stand and continue the march. One man, the commander of the imperial guard came to me and said, "the Lord your God has brought this disaster for your city."

I nodded. He spoke the truth, just as God told me.

"The Lord has done just as he said he would. All this happened because you people sinned against the Lord and did not obey him."

I nodded again and was amazed that he spoke the same words I had been saying. All the prisoners around me heard him.

"Today, Jeremiah, I am freeing you from the chains on your wrists. Come with me to Babylon, if you like, and I will look after you. But if you do not want to go, then don't. Look out in front of you, at the whole country. Go wherever you please."

I looked and thought for a moment.

"Go back to Gedaliah," he said. "He is governor of the city. Go and live among the people, or go anywhere else you please."

The commander gave me food and a present. "Go. Live in peace."

So I did. I carried the food and the present he gave and walked away from those who were still in chains and heading for Babylon. I kept walking until I reached Gedaliah and told him what the commander had said. 

From there I went home. I slept in my own bed and lived with the people who were left behind in the land. God has blessed me and I look forward to this rest.


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1.  Who attacked Jerusalem?
2.  What reward did God give Ebed-Melech for saving Jeremiah from the cistern?
3.  Why was Jeremiah in chains?
4.  What did did the commander of the imperial army give Jeremiah?
5.  Where did he let Jeremiah go?

Amy Carmichael-The Grumpy Captain and Tiny Unwanted Visitors

By Mary Vee

Year: 1893 

Amy Carmichael: 26 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy. 

I get to be a missionary in a foreign country! This is so exciting!!

I spent several day on the island of Ceylon. You'll have to read my last post for all the details. Scroll down to last Monday.

This morning, I boarded the SS Sutlej with the same three missionary ladies I traveled with from England. We set sail for Shanghai after sailers loaded the supplies and set the sails. 

The Sutlej had a few teensy problems. The cabins were as small as a closet. And--Rats. Cockroaches. Everywhere.

Living in a small room with rats and cockroaches wasn't a new adventure for me. My tiny apartment in the slums of Ancoats, England had the same problem. 

Would you believe me if I said my excitement for being a foreign missionary made dealing with these monsters easier? Well, it's true. I found a large piece of cardboard and wrote these words from the Bible "In Everything Give Thanks," and hung it over my bed. 

Each night as I opened my cabin door, I saw the my handmade sign--then checked the blankets for droppings and unwelcomed tiny visitors. 

The captain didn't seem to be a happy man. He barked orders to his men day and night. I offered to help the crew, but he wouldn't let me. Maybe he felt guilty about the poor conditions on his ship, after all he saw me sleeping on the deck several nights.

One day he called me to his office. "Amy," he said. "You have show such a positive attitude every time I see you. Other passengers grumble about the terrible conditions on board. I must admit, the ship isn't what she used to be. But, you...you are content and offer kind words to everyone on board. How do you do it?"

His question made me so happy. Because I lived the life Jesus wanted me to, the captain of the ship at that very moment gave me the opportunity to tell him about God's love.

EEEEEEEEE! I answered all his questions and showed him some Bible verses to think about.

Each day he met with me on the deck, or had me to stand by him while he worked. He had so many questions, wanting to know more about Jesus. Each night I prayed, asking God to give me the answers to the questions the captain would ask the next day.

Then it happened. One morning after breakfast, the captain had the one question I longed to hear. He wanted to know how to have the same faith in Jesus as I had. 

My heart beat wild with excitement as I showed him the Bible verses and asked him if he truly wanted to ask Jesus into his heart. He said yes! I wish you could have seen the joy on his face when he finished his prayer. It was like watching someone opening their most wanted Christmas present!

The captain asked me to make some cardboard signs with Bible verses. I did. He hung them in his cabin. 

Photo Courtesy

I must admit, the long ship ride became boring and dealing with the rats and cockroaches did wear me down. The day the ship steamed up the Yangtze River and then the Huangpu River to dock in Shanghai was a day that made me very happy.

I said my goodbyes to the captain and walked down the plank to the dock. Missionaries from the China Inland Mission took me to their home where I waited for the letter from the Japanese missionaries.

I haven't reached my final destination, and I'm so excited to see my new home and work.

Come back next time. I have much more to share!


Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Jeremiah-The Day Jerusalem Fell

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 39, II Kings 25

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

If only King Zedekiah had listened to me. He asked me to his chambers one last time and said, "I am afraid of the Jews who have gone over to the Babylonians. If I surrender, the Babylonian army may turn me over to those Jews and they will mistreat me."

I said, "No they won't. If you obey what God says, those things will not happen to you."

But he didn't. 

On the fourth month and the ninth day, famine had become so severe in the city of Jerusalem that no one had even a crumb of food. 

No one could go out to the farmland to harvest any crops because the Babylonia army guarded the city.

On this same day, while King Zedekiah reigned, the city wall was broken through by Nebuchadnezzar's army. The high officials of the king of Babylon took seats in the Middle Gate to show they were in charge.

King Zedekiah peeked around a corner and saw them sitting there. He turned to the few loyal men he had left and said, "Quick, get me out of here."

They left the city at night by way of the king's garden and through the gate between the two walls. They crept along the road towards Arabah.

I had warned him that he would not be able to escape the king of Babylon. And so it happened, just as God said. Some Babylonian soldiers saw Zedekiah and his officials escaping and ran after them. The soldiers stopped them in the plains of Jericho.

The soldiers tied King Zedekiah's hands and took him to King Nebuchadnezzar. The king of Babylon didn't even wait a moment before giving Zedekiah his sentence. Nebuchadnezzar killed Zedekiah's sons and his officials right before his eyes. Then he made Zedekiah blind, tied him in bronze chains, and took him to Babylon. Zedekiah was thrown into prison where he stayed until he died. 

I wish he had listened to God's message.

The Babylonians broke into the temple and stole the bronze pillars, the movable stands, and the bronze Sea. They also took the pots, shovels, wick trimmers, sprinkling bowls, dishes and all the bronze articles used in the temple service. Then they stole the basins, censers, sprinkling bowls, lamp stands, dishes and bowls used for drink offerings, all those made of gold, silver, and bronze.

On the tenth day of the fifth month, the commander of the Babylonian imperial guard set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace, and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building burned to the ground. The army then broke down all the walls around Jerusalem.

The imperial guard took more captives, but left the very poor--those who owned absolutely nothing. To these people, the guard gave fields and vineyards to care for.

Sadly, 4,600 people from Jerusalem were taken captive to Babylon in all. They became servants to the Babylonians until the kingdom of Persia came to power. 

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1.  What was King Zedekiah afraid of?
2.  What didn't the people have?
3.  What did the Babylonian army do?
4.  What did Zedekiah decide to do?
5.  What happened to King Zedekiah?
6.  Did the people obey God?
7.  How many prisoners were taken to Babylon?

Jeremiah-Sunk in Ooey, Gooey Mud

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 38

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem.

King Zedekiah gave four of his officials, Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur permission to do whatever they wanted to do to me. These four men were angry--very angry with me. 

These men, like many others in the city, had listened to the false prophets who said the city would not be attack and everyone would be safe in a short time. This wasn't true. God said Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon would attack. The only hope of escape was to surrender.

Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur decided the only way to make me stop telling God's messages was to get rid of me. They took me to Malkijah's cistern. Maklijah was the king's son.

The cistern was in the courtyard of the guard. They tied ropes around me and lowered me down into the deep cistern. My feet didn't touch the bottom, instead they sunk into mud, nasty smelling, thick, ooey, gooey mud. I had no water or food to eat. There was no way for me to escape and I had no idea how long those cruel official would leave me there. 

To make matters worse, they left me alone.

Much later, I found out Ebed-Melech, a man from Egypt serving as an official in the royal palace came to my rescue after hearing what Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur did. 

Ebed-Melech ran to King Zedekiah's chamber and said, "My lord the king, your four officials have acted wickedly to Jeremiah the prophet. They have thrown him into a cistern where he will starve to death."

King Zedekiah said, "Very well. Take thirty men from here with you and lift Jeremiah the prophet out of the cistern before he dies."

Photo Courtesy

Ebed-Melech took the men with him and went to a room under the treasury in the palace. He gathered some old rags and worn-out clothes from the room. They hurried to the opening of the cistern and lowered the worn-out clothes and rags. He said to me, "Put these old rags and worn-out clothes under your arms to pad the ropes."

How very thoughtful. I had a difficult time moving because of the mud, but managed to do as he said. I called up, "Ready."

The men pulled me out of the cistern. The stench soaked into my clothes and skin. Fortunately, Ebed-Melech helped me to wash away the smell. Now that I think about it, he probably couldn't stand the smell either! 


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1.  Why did the four mean officials get mad at Jeremiah?
2.  Who did the four mean officials go to with their complaint?
3.  What did the four mean officials do to Jeremiah?
4.  Who went to the king to save Jeremiah?
5.  How did he save Jeremiah?

Amy Carmichael-Ceylon, What a Beautiful Island

By Mary Vee

Year: 1893 

Amy Carmichael: 26 years old

From Amy's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Amy. 

I can't believe it. I'm so excited.

The three missionary ladies I traveled with from England led the way down the gang plank and onto the dock. Where were we? Our first port happened to be the island of Ceylon near the country of India. 

How exciting! After growing up and never leaving England and Wales before, I feel like I've stepped into a brand new world.

Crowds of men, women, and children filled nearly every inch of the streets. Their skin a soft brown and their hair black. What also amazed me was the color of their eyes. Everyone had brown eyes--beautiful brown eyes that God gave them, just like mine. I couldn't help but laugh, and let a tear fall as I remembered all the times I begged God for blue eyes. God truly knows what is best.

Photo Courtesy

The three ladies and I climbed onto rickshaws and rode through the city streets to the nearby mission.

Beautiful tall palm trees swayed in the hot breeze. The humidity in the air was so thick I almost felt like I swam through a lake. Hot. Sticky. Humid. So different from what I was used to.

The scents in the air surprised me. Some spice. What was it? Cumin? 

Storeowners called out for people to come buy their products. Bells rang, people walked in front of the rickshaws, sacks of grain lines the markets, and venders work to make more items to sell. I've never seen so many people hustle from here to there.

Photo Courtesy

The women's clothes had bright colors, flowers in the gardens and the buildings had bold colors, too. The women wore glittery jewelry and silk scarves. Their dresses were lovely.

The trees, people, smells, everything seemed so different from England. I wanted to see more. 

When we arrived at the mission, we sat at a table filled with hot breakfast foods which had been prepared for us. 

After we finished our meal, we sat around the organ and sang hymns, praising our Lord. The missionaries working there asked me to come back sometime to play the organ again.

I never expected the journey to be so exciting! And this is only my first port. I'll sail on to China when my next ship leaves.


Come back next time. I have much more to share!


Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

Don't forget to comment! 
Let Amy hear from you!

Jeremiah-Sometimes TattleTellers Win, Sometimes They Lose

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 38

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem. There aren't many people left living here. Most were taken away as prisoners.

King Zedekiah released me from the dungeon after I reminded him he should not put a messenger of God in such a horrid place. I don't think I could have lived there much longer. It was so very cold, damp, and dark. The air smelled old and I barely had anything to eat or drink. 

I was placed under the care of a guard in the Royal court. At least there I had the freedom to warn the people. God said, "Tell the people to surrender to Nebuchadnezzar." 

King Zedekiah, disagreed. All his officials disagreed as well. The false prophets told them they did not need to surrender. Everything would be fine in a short time.

I didn't care. God told me to tell the people his message, so I did. 

One day Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur stopped in the court and stood behind a crowd of people, listening to me speak, "Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, or plague. But whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. You will escape with your life. You will live. This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon who will capture it. This is what the Lord says." 

The officials stomped away, in the direction of King Zedekiah's chamber. "We're going to tell the king what you're saying to the people."

I heard from one of the servants what they did inside the king's palace. They barged into the King's chambers and demanded to speak to him. One said, "Jeremiah should be put to death. He is discouraging the soldiers, the few who we still have left in the city, as well as all the people. He isn't looking out for the people's good. He is trying to ruin them--ruin the whole city!"

King Zedekiah shrugged and drank from his glass. "Go ahead and do with him as you please. I will not oppose whatever you have in mind."

Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur walked away, thanking the king for his kindness. Once they reached the corridor, they leaped for joy and laughed. "At last, we will be rid of Jeremiah."

No matter what they choose to do to me, God will be in charge.

There is more to this story. Come back next time to see how these men will end up loosing this battle.

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1.  Where was Jeremiah held as prisoner?
2.  What did Jeremiah tell the people?
3.  Who became upset with Jeremiah's words?
4.  Why did this make them mad (the answer is in what they said to the king)
5.  What did King Zedekiah decide after hearing the complaint of these men?
6.  What do you think Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jehucal, and Pashhur will do?

Jeremiah-Sprung from the Dungeon

By Mary Vee
Jeremiah 37

From Jeremiah's Journal

Photo Courtesy

My name is Jeremiah. I am a prophet, a person sent from God to give messages to the Israelites who still live in Jerusalem. There aren't many of us.

I've been in a vaulted cell of a dungeon for a long time. A few officials didn't like the messages I told them from God and talked the king into putting me into prison. This has not been the first time, and I have a feeling it won't be the last.

One day, King Zedekiah surprised me by asking his official to bring me to his chambers. The officials let me clean my face and wash up before I went to see him.

The king offered me a chair to sit then asked the guards to leave. We sat alone in the room. He spoke softly to me to make sure no one in the corridor could hear our conversation. 

"Is there any word from the Lord?"

I found his question amazing. Here he allowed the officials to throw me in the dungeon for a long time because they did not like the messages from the Lord and now he is asking me to tell him more?

I answered, "Yes. You will be handed over to the king of Babylon."

I took the opportunity to defend myself and said, "What crime have I committed against you or your officials or the people of Judah? Why have you put me in prison so long. Where are your prophets who prophesied to you? You know, the ones who said the king of Babylon would not attack this land? They were wrong weren't they? Just as God said.

"But now, oh king, please listen to my request. Do not send me back to the house of Jonathan or I will die there."

King Zedekiah took a drink and set his glass back down. "All right."

He called for the guards. "Jeremiah is not to be returned to Jonathan's house. He is to be placed in the courtyard of the guard and given bread from the street of the bakers each day until all the bread in the city is gone."

Photo Courtesy

The guard didn't look very pleased about his orders, but he obeyed. I'm still guarded like a prisoner, but at least I'm not locked in a terrible dungeon. 

From this place I saw people who came in and went out of the court. I told every man and woman the message from God. "Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, or plague. But whoever goes over to the Babylonians will live. He will escape with his life. He will live. This city will certainly be handed over to the army of the king of Babylon who will capture it. This is what the Lord says.


Come back next time see what happened.

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1.  Where was Jeremiah held as prisoner?
2.  Why was he there?
3.  Why did the king call Jeremiah to his chambers?
4.  What did Jeremiah ask for?
5.  Did the king give it to him

Amy Carmichael-My First Voyage-Salty Sea and Storms

By Mary Vee

Year: 1893 

Amy Carmichael: 26 years old

From Amy's Journal

My name is Amy. 

I boarded the good ship SS Valetta for my very first voyage. At first, I simply watched the sea. Like you, I wasn't use to being surrounded by water, something I'd get to enjoy for the next several months. 

The first day at sea I was fascinated with the smells, the crew bustling around, the captain, the sea creatures leaping up from the water. Between all these sights and the excitement to finally be on my way to a new land as a missionary, I could hardly eat. 

After a few days of riding up and down, up and down, up an down I knew I had to find something to occupy my time to keep from getting sea sick. I offered to help the captain. The look on his face seemed to say, "What can you do?" He grinned and said, "Would you bring me a new Bible verse each day?"

How kind of him to think of the very thing I not only could do, but would be thrilled to do. The two missionary ladies who sailed on the same ship joined me in a Bible study. We invited all the passengers and crew. Because of the Bible study, I was able to help a man accept Jesus as his Savior. The first person of my new missionary life. Can you imagine how excited I felt?

We sailed into the Mediterranean Sea. Horrible storms brewed and shook the ship so much many of the passengers thought they would die. The Apostle Paul was also caught in a terrible storm on the Mediterranean. Other missionaries have told about scary ship rides through this sea. Some used their faith to remember God would take care of them. Others cried out in fear.

I had remembered these things as the shipped rolled and tipped to the side. The crew ran from one mast to another caring for the sails. The rains pelted the deck, stinging drops hit our heads and backs. The captain barked his orders and had every word obeyed immediately. Through all of this, God gave me peace. I knew we would be safe. 

Suez Canal, Egypt. early 1900s.
Goodyear Archival Collection. Brooklyn Museum

One of my favorite parts of the trip was sailing through the Suez Canal. You simply must go some day. Many workers took ten years to build a canal for ships to have a shorter journey to India and the far east. Look at the map at the top. Can you see how much longer the trip would have been if we had to sail around Africa? Too long!

Days later, our ship docked at a British port in India. All the passengers and crew went ashore to take a break from the trip. I couldn't believe how different everything looked from my home in England. 

Come back next time. I have much more to share!


Resources used for this series:
Benge, Janet, and Geoff Benge. Amy Carmichael: Rescuer of Precious Gems. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 1998. Print.
Davis, Rebecca Henry. With Daring Faith: A Biography of Amy Carmichael. Greenville, SC: Bob Jones UP, 1987. Print.
Dick, Lois Hoadley. Amy Carmichael: Let the Children Come. Chicago: Moody, 1984. Print.
Meloche, Renee Taft., and Bryan Pollard. Amy Carmichael: Rescuing the Children. Seattle, WA: YWAM Pub., 2002. Print.
Wellman, Sam. Amy Carmichael: A Life Abandoned to God. Uhrichville, OH: Barbour Pub., 1998. Print.

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