Abram, the Covenant & Ishmael
How many times do we try to second guess God and take things into our own hands? How often do we doubt His promises? Many times I have been guilty of both. When tempted to doubt and take control, we should remember the consequences faced by the world from the birth of Ishmael. How much pain and suffering has the world endured because of this one act?
Help me, Lord, to be more trusting of You and willing to wait on You. Your ways are higher than my ways.
I want to lift up to You once again Jason as he seeks to determine Your plan for the Youth Mission Team. Thank You for closed doors that point him toward Your plan. May Your plan be carried out.
Continue to prepare the roads for my trip tomorrow. Give me a safe journey.
Be with Steele today and in the coming days as she prepares to have this cancer removed from her face. I pray that it is not very deep and can be completely removed without much damage. Give her the strength and courage needed to face this difficult diagnosis. Help her family and friends to be supportive and strong. Bring complete and total healing and may she be able to return quickly to her dance students.
Thank You once again for the gift of another day. May it bring You glory.
Protect my family, especially Joel and the kids.
You are most worthy of all my praise!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Genesis Chapter 14
Abram Rescues Lot
Abram must rescue Lot who was taken captive when neighboring kings invaded Sodom where he lived. Abram assembled his servants and chased down the kings and defeated them. Even though he was grossly outnumbered, Abram was victorious thus establishing the fact that with God on your side the facts don't count. Abram receives a blessing from Melchizedek (the first recorded priest) and offers him a tithe (the first recorded tithe). When tempted to accept the king of Sodom's generous reward, Abram remains true to the promise he made to God to "not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, 'I made Abram rich'." The you here referring to the king of Sodom, of course. Abram recognized that the victory belonged to the Lord.
Help me God to recognize that my victories belong to You. Help me to give You the glory that You deserve. Thank you for being on my side.
Father, I want to lift up the Youth Mission Team to you this morning. I ask that you would give clear guidance to Jason as he seeks to determine Your plan for this team. Show him where and when You would have them to serve. If it is Your plan for them to serve during Spring Break work out the details. If not, then make the plan clear as to when You would have them to serve. I thank you for Jason's strength and willingness to follow Your direction. Continue to give him wisdom and discernment.
I lift up Jessica and her exam today. Help her to be able to recall what she has learned and to do her very best.
I lift up Jacob as he prepares for the new semester. I also lift up Justin and Candice as they fly and prepare for their next assignment. Protect them and give them success.
I lift up Joel as he seeks to learn his new assignment. Give him wisdom and resolve to do his best. Strengthen him in every way to carry out Your plan for him.
I ask that I would be able to accomplish a lot toward organizing the AR at the Studio. Give me uninterrupted time to focus and work.
Thank you for another beautiful day!
Abram must rescue Lot who was taken captive when neighboring kings invaded Sodom where he lived. Abram assembled his servants and chased down the kings and defeated them. Even though he was grossly outnumbered, Abram was victorious thus establishing the fact that with God on your side the facts don't count. Abram receives a blessing from Melchizedek (the first recorded priest) and offers him a tithe (the first recorded tithe). When tempted to accept the king of Sodom's generous reward, Abram remains true to the promise he made to God to "not take a thread or sandal strap or anything that belongs to you, so you can never say, 'I made Abram rich'." The you here referring to the king of Sodom, of course. Abram recognized that the victory belonged to the Lord.
Help me God to recognize that my victories belong to You. Help me to give You the glory that You deserve. Thank you for being on my side.
Father, I want to lift up the Youth Mission Team to you this morning. I ask that you would give clear guidance to Jason as he seeks to determine Your plan for this team. Show him where and when You would have them to serve. If it is Your plan for them to serve during Spring Break work out the details. If not, then make the plan clear as to when You would have them to serve. I thank you for Jason's strength and willingness to follow Your direction. Continue to give him wisdom and discernment.
I lift up Jessica and her exam today. Help her to be able to recall what she has learned and to do her very best.
I lift up Jacob as he prepares for the new semester. I also lift up Justin and Candice as they fly and prepare for their next assignment. Protect them and give them success.
I lift up Joel as he seeks to learn his new assignment. Give him wisdom and resolve to do his best. Strengthen him in every way to carry out Your plan for him.
I ask that I would be able to accomplish a lot toward organizing the AR at the Studio. Give me uninterrupted time to focus and work.
Thank you for another beautiful day!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Genesis 12:9 - 13:18
Abram in Egypt
Once again, God has to intervene and get His plan back on track. Apparently Abram moved his family to Egypt because of a famine in the land of Canaan. It seems that he did this though without consulting the Lord or asking for provisions where he was. He took things into his own hands. Then when he gets to Egypt he has to devise a plan to protect himself. God steps in and forces Abram and his family out of Egypt and back to Canaan. These events are seen as a foreshadowing of what is to come. Upon arriving back to where he started, Abram "called on the name of the Lord." After separating from his nephew Lot, God spoke to Abram and promises to give Abram all the land that he can see and to make his offspring too numerous to be counted.
How many times have I stepped in and tried to control my life by making decisions without God? More than I want to admit. Help me Lord to have the faith that causes me to wait on you.
Thank you for a wonderful day yesterday! It was practically perfect!
I pray that today Joel would be able to move forward in his new role. Help him, however, to be willing to move at your pace and not his. Guide his thoughts and actions.
I lift up our parents to you and ask that you would bring healing and protection. Strengthen them on a daily basis and provide them with good health. Help them to live life to the fullest.
I pray for a hedge of protection around my children. May they seek to follow you and grow closer to you. Help them to make right choices and decisions.
I ask that you would continue to help Steele with quitting smoking. I pray that she would be successful in this endeavor. Give her strength and determination.
I also lift up Drew and his family. Bring healing and restoration to his body. Give the doctors wisdom. And grant his family peace and strength.
You are an awesome God!
Once again, God has to intervene and get His plan back on track. Apparently Abram moved his family to Egypt because of a famine in the land of Canaan. It seems that he did this though without consulting the Lord or asking for provisions where he was. He took things into his own hands. Then when he gets to Egypt he has to devise a plan to protect himself. God steps in and forces Abram and his family out of Egypt and back to Canaan. These events are seen as a foreshadowing of what is to come. Upon arriving back to where he started, Abram "called on the name of the Lord." After separating from his nephew Lot, God spoke to Abram and promises to give Abram all the land that he can see and to make his offspring too numerous to be counted.
How many times have I stepped in and tried to control my life by making decisions without God? More than I want to admit. Help me Lord to have the faith that causes me to wait on you.
Thank you for a wonderful day yesterday! It was practically perfect!
I pray that today Joel would be able to move forward in his new role. Help him, however, to be willing to move at your pace and not his. Guide his thoughts and actions.
I lift up our parents to you and ask that you would bring healing and protection. Strengthen them on a daily basis and provide them with good health. Help them to live life to the fullest.
I pray for a hedge of protection around my children. May they seek to follow you and grow closer to you. Help them to make right choices and decisions.
I ask that you would continue to help Steele with quitting smoking. I pray that she would be successful in this endeavor. Give her strength and determination.
I also lift up Drew and his family. Bring healing and restoration to his body. Give the doctors wisdom. And grant his family peace and strength.
You are an awesome God!
Monday, January 10, 2011
Genesis Chapter 11
Genesis 11:1-9
Once again the people began to try to take things into their own hands and do things their way. Instead of continuing with God's command to multiply and fill the earth, they decide to come up with a plan to stay in one place and not scatter over the earth.
11:5 - In spite of their best efforts to elevate themselves to God's domain (by building a tower to the heavens), the Lord still had to come "down to look over the city and the tower." Human attempts to achieve glory which belongs to God alone, always fall pitifully short!
11:7-9 - God thwarted their plan by bringing confusion. "Therefore its name is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth." God will bring people into compliance with his plan! He will make sure his plan is carried out, despite our best efforts to do differently! If we could only look at this example and learn that life would be so much better if we would just follow God's plan instead of trying to do things a "better" way!!
What a wonderful joy to be at home watching it snow! Help me God to do things your way and not try to invent a "better" way. Your way is perfect and I thank you for that! Help me to be patient as you reveal your plan on a daily basis. Help not to try and jump ahead.
I pray that you would continue to bring healing for Jacob. Reveal to him your plan for him and help him to find your peace during this difficult. May he embrace the new year, the new semester and the new beginning!
Thank you for a great trip yesterday to get Jessica's car! Thank you for safety. May she enjoy this privilege and be responsible with it. Keep her safe in her travels. Thank you for providing the means for allowing her this privilege.
Give wisdom and strength and confindence to Joel as he faces the challenges of his new job position. Thank you for the opportunity! I pray that he would succeed and that you would be glorified.
Help me to make the most of the opportunities that this day brings!
Once again the people began to try to take things into their own hands and do things their way. Instead of continuing with God's command to multiply and fill the earth, they decide to come up with a plan to stay in one place and not scatter over the earth.
11:5 - In spite of their best efforts to elevate themselves to God's domain (by building a tower to the heavens), the Lord still had to come "down to look over the city and the tower." Human attempts to achieve glory which belongs to God alone, always fall pitifully short!
11:7-9 - God thwarted their plan by bringing confusion. "Therefore its name is called Babylon, for there the Lord confused the language of the whole earth, and from there the Lord scattered them over the face of the whole earth." God will bring people into compliance with his plan! He will make sure his plan is carried out, despite our best efforts to do differently! If we could only look at this example and learn that life would be so much better if we would just follow God's plan instead of trying to do things a "better" way!!
What a wonderful joy to be at home watching it snow! Help me God to do things your way and not try to invent a "better" way. Your way is perfect and I thank you for that! Help me to be patient as you reveal your plan on a daily basis. Help not to try and jump ahead.
I pray that you would continue to bring healing for Jacob. Reveal to him your plan for him and help him to find your peace during this difficult. May he embrace the new year, the new semester and the new beginning!
Thank you for a great trip yesterday to get Jessica's car! Thank you for safety. May she enjoy this privilege and be responsible with it. Keep her safe in her travels. Thank you for providing the means for allowing her this privilege.
Give wisdom and strength and confindence to Joel as he faces the challenges of his new job position. Thank you for the opportunity! I pray that he would succeed and that you would be glorified.
Help me to make the most of the opportunities that this day brings!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Noah's Geneology
Obedience
Genesis chapter 10 traces the geneology of Noah's sons. It shows how they were obedient to God's command to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth."
I want to be obedient to You too God! Give me the strength to do what you ask of me.
I pray for a safe trip to Laurens and back today. I also lift up the fundraiser for Haiti and ask that it would be a financial success. I pray that many people would support the mission team. I thank you for those you have served and will serve today. Bless them in a special way. I also thank you for those who have contributed financially to Jessica's trip. Please bless them for their generosity.
I lift up Justin and Candice today. Give them strength to finish out flight school. Keep them safe and give them success. Bless their relationship. Continue to strenghten it and draw them closer to each other and to you. May your will be accomplished in the location of their 1st assignment.
Thank you for the way in which you have provided for my family. My we continue to serve you in whatever way you lead.
Genesis chapter 10 traces the geneology of Noah's sons. It shows how they were obedient to God's command to "be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth."
I want to be obedient to You too God! Give me the strength to do what you ask of me.
I pray for a safe trip to Laurens and back today. I also lift up the fundraiser for Haiti and ask that it would be a financial success. I pray that many people would support the mission team. I thank you for those you have served and will serve today. Bless them in a special way. I also thank you for those who have contributed financially to Jessica's trip. Please bless them for their generosity.
I lift up Justin and Candice today. Give them strength to finish out flight school. Keep them safe and give them success. Bless their relationship. Continue to strenghten it and draw them closer to each other and to you. May your will be accomplished in the location of their 1st assignment.
Thank you for the way in which you have provided for my family. My we continue to serve you in whatever way you lead.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Parallels Between Noah and Adam
I guess I never have really thought about there being any parallels between Adam and Noah. Bible study today revealed several.
Genesis 9
9:1-2 - God told Noah and his sons to "be fruitful and mulitply" just like He told Adam. However, because of sin in the world now, the peace that existed between Adam and the animals is not present with Noah. "Fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea."
9:3 - God gave all of the animals to Noah as food.
9:11-17 - God confirms His covenant with Noah to never destroy the earth by flood with the tangible sign of the rainbow.
9:20 - Like Adam, Noah was a farmer. He planted a vineyard.
9:21 - Like Adam, Noah also sinned through the consumption of fruit. Noah became drunk on wine and brought shame on himself through his nakedness in his tent.
9:23 - Shem & Japheth cover their father's nakedness, thus ending his shame. This parallels God's covering of Adam and Eve following their sin.
I am thankful that our God is a God of new beginnings! God you are faithful to your promises! I thank you for working out the details for getting Jessica's car. I pray for a safe trip tomorrow. I also thank you for revealing the next step on our journey. I thank you that Joel received the promotion to Project Manager. I pray that you would guide him and give him wisdom in this new role. I pray that he would succeed and that You would receive the glory for it. I ask that you would continue to bless him as he seeks to do your will.
I lift up Jacob to you and ask that you would provide healing during this difficult time for him. I thank you for the positive changes he is making. Continue to strengthen him. Give him wisdom and guidance and may he seek your will in every step of this journey. I know that you have someone very special for him. I ask that you would continue to prepare that special lady for him and that he would prepare himself for her.
I pray that the fundraiser tomorrow for Haiti would be a great success! May the proceeds exceed those of the previous fundraiser! Thank you for the donations that Jessica has received so far. Bless the givers in a very special way.
You are a great God!!
Genesis 9
9:1-2 - God told Noah and his sons to "be fruitful and mulitply" just like He told Adam. However, because of sin in the world now, the peace that existed between Adam and the animals is not present with Noah. "Fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea."
9:3 - God gave all of the animals to Noah as food.
9:11-17 - God confirms His covenant with Noah to never destroy the earth by flood with the tangible sign of the rainbow.
9:20 - Like Adam, Noah was a farmer. He planted a vineyard.
9:21 - Like Adam, Noah also sinned through the consumption of fruit. Noah became drunk on wine and brought shame on himself through his nakedness in his tent.
9:23 - Shem & Japheth cover their father's nakedness, thus ending his shame. This parallels God's covering of Adam and Eve following their sin.
I am thankful that our God is a God of new beginnings! God you are faithful to your promises! I thank you for working out the details for getting Jessica's car. I pray for a safe trip tomorrow. I also thank you for revealing the next step on our journey. I thank you that Joel received the promotion to Project Manager. I pray that you would guide him and give him wisdom in this new role. I pray that he would succeed and that You would receive the glory for it. I ask that you would continue to bless him as he seeks to do your will.
I lift up Jacob to you and ask that you would provide healing during this difficult time for him. I thank you for the positive changes he is making. Continue to strengthen him. Give him wisdom and guidance and may he seek your will in every step of this journey. I know that you have someone very special for him. I ask that you would continue to prepare that special lady for him and that he would prepare himself for her.
I pray that the fundraiser tomorrow for Haiti would be a great success! May the proceeds exceed those of the previous fundraiser! Thank you for the donations that Jessica has received so far. Bless the givers in a very special way.
You are a great God!!
Friday, January 7, 2011
Noah
Observations about Noah from Genesis 6:8 - 8:22
6:8 - "Noah, however, found favor in the sight of the Lord." Despite the evil around him, Noah remained strong in his faith and God recognized it.
6:13 - 6:21 - God explained to Noah His plans for Noah and his family, as well as, the rest of the entire earth! Imagine being the only person on earth that God could talk to! What amazing faith!
6:22 - "And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him." Faith in action! Noah was totally committed to God's plan - he did everything God told him to do!
7:1 - 7:4 - God again issues instructions to Noah.
7:5 - "And Noah did everything that the Lord commanded him." Once again, Noah was totally obedient to God.
7:11 - 7:26 - God shut Noah, his family and all the animals in the ark. The Bible does not record any communication between Noah and God during this time. It most likely was a very dark and dismal time for Noah. He may have even felt that God had forgotten him. Sometimes it seems to me that despite the fact that I have been obedient, God seems to not have noticed.
8:1 - "God remembered Noah . . ." God had not forgotten him!
8:2 - 8:14 - Noah patiently waits on God to prepare the way for him to be able to leave the ark.
8:15 - God spoke to Noah telling him to come out of the ark!
8:20 - Noah built an altar and offered an amazing sacrifice to the Lord.
8:21 - God was pleased with the sacrifice.
8:21-22 - God promises to never curse the ground again. And despite man's sinful nature, He would never again destroy the earth. The earth would return to its predictable, comforting rhythms of life - harvest, seasons, day and night.
I pray that I might have the faith and willingness to obey like Noah.
At this time of what seems like chaos and uncertainty, I ask that God would return my life to those comforting rhythms once again. I pray that the seemingly simple task of going to get Jessica's car would come together. And I pray that the seemingly overwhelming task of knowing the path that Joel and I are to walk will become clear. I ask that God's will would be accomplished and that His hand would be upon those making decisions that are beyond our control. And that we would receive clear and undeniable direction when faced with decisions.
I pray that the details of the weekend of Feb 11 would come together easily.
Thank you God for your promise of a plan for my life and your faithfulness to carry out that plan!
6:8 - "Noah, however, found favor in the sight of the Lord." Despite the evil around him, Noah remained strong in his faith and God recognized it.
6:13 - 6:21 - God explained to Noah His plans for Noah and his family, as well as, the rest of the entire earth! Imagine being the only person on earth that God could talk to! What amazing faith!
6:22 - "And Noah did this. He did everything that God had commanded him." Faith in action! Noah was totally committed to God's plan - he did everything God told him to do!
7:1 - 7:4 - God again issues instructions to Noah.
7:5 - "And Noah did everything that the Lord commanded him." Once again, Noah was totally obedient to God.
7:11 - 7:26 - God shut Noah, his family and all the animals in the ark. The Bible does not record any communication between Noah and God during this time. It most likely was a very dark and dismal time for Noah. He may have even felt that God had forgotten him. Sometimes it seems to me that despite the fact that I have been obedient, God seems to not have noticed.
8:1 - "God remembered Noah . . ." God had not forgotten him!
8:2 - 8:14 - Noah patiently waits on God to prepare the way for him to be able to leave the ark.
8:15 - God spoke to Noah telling him to come out of the ark!
8:20 - Noah built an altar and offered an amazing sacrifice to the Lord.
8:21 - God was pleased with the sacrifice.
8:21-22 - God promises to never curse the ground again. And despite man's sinful nature, He would never again destroy the earth. The earth would return to its predictable, comforting rhythms of life - harvest, seasons, day and night.
I pray that I might have the faith and willingness to obey like Noah.
At this time of what seems like chaos and uncertainty, I ask that God would return my life to those comforting rhythms once again. I pray that the seemingly simple task of going to get Jessica's car would come together. And I pray that the seemingly overwhelming task of knowing the path that Joel and I are to walk will become clear. I ask that God's will would be accomplished and that His hand would be upon those making decisions that are beyond our control. And that we would receive clear and undeniable direction when faced with decisions.
I pray that the details of the weekend of Feb 11 would come together easily.
Thank you God for your promise of a plan for my life and your faithfulness to carry out that plan!
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