Blessings and Cursings

I'm reading through the book of Jeremiah right now. Some of these verses are really speaking to me. Like this one:

"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the LORD." - Jeremiah 17:5

And then, a few verses later, there's this one:

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him." - Jeremiah 17:7

Would you rather feel blessed, or cursed? I don't know about you, but to me blessings sound better than cursings.

There are lots of people in this world that do not trust the Lord. They can be living their lives, all perfectly happy and content. But then they die, and that's when their cursings come. An eternity in hell.

But let's get back to the blessing part. That sounds more fun. When we place our faith in Christ, and receive His Holy Spirit, it is then that we humble ourselves and realize our shortcomings. That's when the blessings start.

When we watch the news, do you think our nation is blessed? Or is God trying to get our attention through his cursings? It's hard to say with any certainty. But this verse from The Book of Psalms gives us a clue:

"Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD." - Psalm 33:12

Maybe it's time we as a nation 

sought the Lord more than we do.

"May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace." - Numbers 6:24-26