Check Ourselves for the Difference

Suddenly, Yahweh [God] spoke his word to Abram again. He said, “This man will not be your heir. Your own son will be your heir.” He took Abram outside and said, “Now look up at the sky and count the stars, if you are able to count them.” He also said to him, “That’s how many descendants you will have!" Then Abram believed Yahweh, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abram’s approval by Yahweh.
Genesis 15:4-6 NOG (Names of God Bible)

This is very often the Scripture reference mentioned when referring to God's promise of descendants to Abram, but it's not the first time God declared it.

Look at Genesis 12:7 NIV, "The Lord appeared to Abram and said, 'To your offspring I will give this land.' So he [Abram] built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him." By building the altar to worship, Abram acknowledged the Lord, but there is no evidence of believing Him.

Flip over to Genesis 13:14-17. Here God tells Abram again. "After Lot left, Yahweh said to Abram, “Look north, south, east, and west of where you are. I will give all the land you see to you and to your descendants for an indefinite period of time. I will also give you as many descendants as the dust of the earth. If anyone could count the dust of the earth, then he could also count your descendants. Go! Walk back and forth across the entire land because I will give it to you.”

This is the SECOND declaration of descendants for Abram and in the next verse, Abram built another altar to worship Yahweh the LORD. Again, he acknowledged the Lord, but there is no evidence of believing Him.

How do we know that? Abram speaks to God in Chapter 15:2-3 NOG, Abram asked, “Adonay Yahweh, what will you give me? Since I’m going to die without children, Eliezer of Damascus will inherit my household. You have given me no children, so this member of my household will be my heir.”

Verse 4 - "Suddenly, Yahweh spoke his word to Abram again. He said, “This man will not be your heir. Your own son will be your heir.” 

FYI - The only other English translations that include the word "again" are the Good News Translation and the ISV - International Standard Version. Perhaps people think Chapter 15 is the first mention because verse 6 states, "Then Abram believed Yahweh, and that faith was regarded as the basis of Abram’s approval by Yahweh." 

I think acknowledging God is not the same as believing God. I think Abram acknowledged God's Word regarding his future descendants because he built an altar unto the LORD BOTH times, but it wasn't until Chapter 15:6 that Abram believed...

How often do we do that? Are we acknowledging what He says or do we believe? 

Prayer:

Father,
          Forgive us for the times You speak to us and we don't act on Your Word. We know You don't speak just to hear Yourself talk. Your Words are Light and Life to us. Open our ears, our eyes and our hearts to hear You, see You and fully believe what You say to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Enabling...

And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 1:12-14 NKJV

These days, being an enabler has a negative connotation. It implies allowing or helping an individual to do something that is detrimental to the individual's well-being. Well, let's see what you think about this...

Have you ever read the book of Genesis? God is the original Enabler. In the 2nd chapter of Genesis, verses 7 & 8, God formed a man from dirt and breathed life into him. That dirt could not have become a man - a living, breathing person - unless God enabled him.

Could David have been king without being enabled? Would Saul - persecutor of Christ - have become the Apostle Paul if God had not enabled him? Paul writes in 1st Corinthians 15:10, "But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace." Does any of that sound detrimental to you?... No, not to me, either.

Throughout Scripture, every story of victory, and overcoming, and living life to the fullest, and growing in the nurture and admonition of the Lord - all are because the LORD enabled. He enables us to do the things He planned long ago for us to do. He gifts us with the talent and skills and knowledge... He puts people on our paths every day to help teach us, to work Godly character into the very fiber of our being. The Word says every good and perfect gift comes from the Father! (James 1:17)

How can this be? Mark 10:15, NLT reads, Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.”  Everything...EVERYthing is possible with God. He is such an Enabler! Praise His Holy Name!

Prayer:

Father,
          Without You, we can do nothing. Without You, we are without hope. Thank You for enabling us to walk in Your footsteps. Help us to faithfully follow You. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder to Follow the Schedule

You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe. Every day was recorded in your Book!
Psalm 139:16 TLB

We deal with schedules every day - and not just our own, but those with whom we interact - the boss, the kids, grandkids. We call it keeping on track, being focused, staying the course. We follow the schedules of life.

You go to a seminar and they hand you a schedule to follow so you can accomplish everything you came to do and get your money's worth. Well, what do you do if you lose your schedule?

I have seen the meltdowns (and experienced a few) when the app doesn't sync properly or the PDA is lost or misplaced, or the DayMinder organizer is left somewhere (yes - there are still a few who use them!). Then there's the infamous computer crash and you hear the wail, "My whole life is in that thing!" and we are lost. You know what I'm talking about. It makes no difference if you work outside the home or your home is your work. There's a schedule to follow.

All day long we're bombarded with thoughts and tasks and assignments and project schedules...and life. I don't know about you, but I have been attention deficit since before they had a name for it. If I hope to get anything done, I have to have a schedule. Do I live rigidly? Oh, no no no. Only on those things that are important. But I do tend to have a hard time staying focused. In the morning, I use my old cell phone as my schedule reminder. I set it as my alarm clock to wake in the morning, and then hit the 10-minute snooze button until I actually leave the house. Some mornings, it drives me crazy, but 99% of the time, it keeps me on task.

We all know how easy it is to get off task. Someone comes to your desk and asks, Do you have a minute? and what they really mean is, I want at least 15 minutes of your time to explain what I need that will take more of your time. Oh, well, depending on your job, it all pays the same, right? The point is, a little behind here, a little behind there, and the next thing you know, the reminder on your Outlook calendar pops up with the note, TWO weeks overdue... 

What DO we do when we're that far off schedule? Stress out? Work horrendous hours to try to catch up? Have "the talk" with the powers that be? Ask for help? Revise? Cry 'Uncle'? Quit?

In many ways, it's very much like our Christian walk. God has already laid the schedule of our days. We get however many days He decided before we were born. If we're off-task, off-schedule or just have blown it so bad we think there's no hope for recovery, I've got Good News for you. God is different. There is ALWAYS redemption. There is ALWAYS recovery. There is ALWAYS a way to revise and get us back on schedule. We simply cry out in Prayer...

Father,

          I am so behind on the schedule of my life. Worse, I can't even seem to find the schedule You have laid out for me. And I want that more than anything else. Please forgive me for losing it and getting so far behind. Help me, Father. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen. 

Reminder that It's All Good

"The same goes for you husbands: Be good husbands to your wives. Honor them, delight in them. As women they lack some of your advantages. But in the new life of God’s grace, you’re equals. Treat your wives, then, as equals so your prayers don’t run aground."
1st Peter 3:7 The Message

Don't worry - just breathe. I'm not going to jump into a male vs. female or equal rights soliloquy. Actually, Peter went on to say some really good things this day. Wise things. Things we should embrace in our everyday life. Read on.

1st Peter 3 continues, "Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing."

"Whoever wants to embrace life and see the day fill up with good, Here’s what you do:
Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
Run after peace for all you’re worth."

"God looks on all this with approval, listening and responding well to what he’s asked; But he turns his back on those who do evil things."

"If with heart and soul you’re doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you’re still better off. Don’t give the opposition a second thought."

"Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you’re living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They’ll end up realizing that they’re the ones who need a bath."

"It’s better to suffer for doing good, if that’s what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That’s what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others’ sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God."

Hmmmmmm. So then, in Christ, it's definitely all good.

Prayer:

Father,
            Let Your Words soak deep into our Spirit. Let us see and understand that You were the first to tell us, "Have a Good Day!" and be good enough to tell us how to do it. You are amazingly awesome! Help us to follow the pattern You laid before us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Basic Instruction for Praying

 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 

1st Thessalonians 5:16-18

I used to be so intimidated to pray aloud. I was afraid of what people would think. I was afraid I would somehow misspeak. And then one day, Steve Fender, in San Antonio - a man who could pray the roof right off a building - preached the most liberating message about prayer. He said, "Stop worrying about what the person next to you thinks about your prayer...unless, of course, you're praying to them. And if you're not praying to them, what does it matter what they think?"

God judges our heart - the inside of us - not the outside.

There's a story about a preacher who was walking out of church one day and noticed a little boy kneeling down behind one of the bushes on the church property. Suspecting foul play, the preacher began to sneak up behind him. As he got closer, he heard the boy reciting, "A B C D... A B C D... A B C D... "

The preacher stood up and demanded with a booming voice, "Boy, what do you think you're doing?"

The little boy looked up from his kneeling position, then stammered, "I...I...I'm praying, sir."

With a snort of derision, the preacher declared, "That's not praying - all you're doing is reciting letters."

"Yes, sir, I know, but didn't you tell us that God knows everything?"

"Of course He does!"  the preacher pontificated.

"Well," began the boy in his explanation, "If God knows everything, He knows what I need to say, but I don't. So, I figured I'd give Him the letters and He could put them together to make the right words."

If ever in your life you've had a conversation with anyone, then you have the necessary rudiments to prayer. Someone to talk to. Someone who will listen. Someone who will answer.

Prayer:

Father,
           Thank You for establishing an open line of communication. Thank You that You hear our prayers. Thank You that there isn't anything...anything...that is taboo when it comes to talking with You. Keep us ever mindful to include You in all our conversation. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder to Take a Letter

"Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God,who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
2nd Corinthians 3:5-6 NKJV

I have a hard time reading contracts. All the legalese drives me to distraction. To me, it's a perfect illustration of our text for today regarding the letter kills... I'm sure glad I don't do it on a full-time basis. I'm not saying contracts aren't important - they are for many reasons, but sometimes contracts - or contract disputes - kill a "guaranteed" project. The client has the work they need done, and you are qualified and trained to do that work, and they want you to do the work, and you want to do their work. Sounds like a perfect solution...unless you can't agree on the contract terms - all the what ifs and contingencies, etc...

The legal eagles on both sides will argue the letter of the law, the literal letter - an S or not an S - sometimes to the death. But once in awhile, there's a champion who can come in and breathe life back into the contract, based on the compatibility of needs with the ability to meet those needs - the spirit of it, if you will - and the champion convinces the two parts to drop the letter of the law (or at least provide a little grace for it.)

What's in one letter that would make that much difference? Well, I'll show you just a few sample pairings.

Change - Chance; Aspirins - Aspiring: Wise - Vise;

And if you leave a letter out, it can be devastating.

Life - Lie;

And satan is banking on it. his lies are subtle. he knows the Word well enough to mess with it. Do you know it well enough to counter his lies with the life that's in the Word? Hey, take a letter.

Prayer:

Father,
           Teach us to walk in Your Spirit so that we don't fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Help us to know when to fight to the death of something and when to pray for life to be breathed back on it. But Father, may it always be Your breath that brings it to life, and not our own. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder to Make Sure You Hear

 The Lord said to Moses, “Write this reminder on a scroll, and make sure that Joshua hears it, too: I will completely erase any memory of the Amalekites from the earth.”

Exodus 17:14 God's Word Translation

This particular battle (where Joshua defeated the Amalekites while Moses was on the mountain with Aaron and Hur holding up his hands) took place about 1446 BC; 40 years before the death of Moses and the subsequent transition to Joshua's leadership. There was no mention of Joshua being the next in line to inherit Moses' position with the Israelites; there was no defined rite of passage.

One particular phrase of this verse leapt out at me this morning. I remembered the part about writing it down and erasing any memory of the Amalekites, but I didn't remember the part about making sure that Joshua would hear it, too. I researched in several translations and it was in all of them - to be certain, to tell it in the ear, to rehearse it, to make sure Joshua heard it, too.

Moses may not have known, Joshua may not have had any inkling, but God's plan was already set in motion. He knew the faithfulness of Joshua. His level of obedience to the letter. Joshua's passion to believe and act on whatever He said without question. Forty years beforehand - 40 years being the symbolism of a time of trial and testing, a type of probationary period. However, Joshua did not know it was a probationary period. It was Joshua's daily choices that allowed him to fulfill God's purpose in and for his life. Joshua CHOSE a lifestyle of faithfulness, obedience and faith.

What is God saying to us in our seemingly insignificant (to us) times that have great bearing on our eternal purpose? Know this - God does not waste words. There is absolutely NOTHING insignificant when it comes to God's plan. Are we listening? We better make sure we hear - and obey!

Prayer:

Father,
            We love Your Word. Remove from our lives the people, places and things that distract us and detract from Your plan and purpose for us. We want to be faithful and obedient like Joshua. We want to fulfill our purpose for You. Help us, O God! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

What to Do?

“This king did the same as my heavenly Father will do to you. You must forgive your brother or sister with all your heart, or my heavenly Father will not forgive you.”

Matthew 18:35 ERV

Have you ever gotten into a situation where your response was less than loving and you needed to humble yourself and ask to be forgiven? Most of us have at one time or another, and usually, the person will forgive us. I believe that is the 'walk-it-out' Truth of Micah 6:8, "The Lord has shown you what is good. He has told you what He requires of you. You must act with justice. You must love to show mercy. And you must be humble as you live in the sight of your God."

But what if they won't forgive you? What do you do then? I think we should pray and seek God's face. Ask for His wisdom. Don't harden our hearts. Remember, "You will never be called upon to give anyone more grace than God has already given you (Max Lucado)."

Prayer:

Father,

          We want to walk according to Your Word. Strengthen us beyond our human frailty. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Moonlight

An evil man has no hope of escaping the darkness. There is a sword somewhere waiting to kill him. He wanders from place to place, looking for food. But he knows a dark day is coming, which he brought on himself.
Job 15:22-23 ERV

I have much to "chew on" from the Book of Job this day but I'm hard-pressed to find encouraging words to share. So once again I will dole out from the Encouraging Word Bible:
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The moon models our role.

What does the moon do? She generates no light. Contrary to the lyrics of the song, this harvest moon cannot shine on. Apart from the sun, the moon is nothing more than a pitch-black, pockmarked rock. But properly positioned, the moon beams. Let her do what she was made to do, and a clod of dirt becomes a source of inspiration, yea, verily, romance. The moon reflects the greater light.

And she’s happy to do so! You never hear the moon complaining. She makes no waves about making waves. Let the cow jump over her or astronauts step on her; she never objects. Even though sunning is accepted while mooning is the butt of bad jokes, you won’t hear ol’ Cheeseface grumble. The moon is at peace in her place. And because she is, soft light touches a dark earth.

What would happen if we accepted our place as Son reflectors?

Suffering, as difficult as it is, needs to be regarded from God’s perspective. He allows certain situations in our lives for reasons beyond our understanding. Our job is to continue to reflect His life—even through our suffering...

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Prayer:

Father,

           Give us eyes to see from Your perspective. We pray for understanding. And if we don't get a full understanding, please never let us go. Let our faith and trust grow in You in such a way that we completely understand that You are God and we are not. And let us be at peace with it, knowing that nothing touches our lives without Your purpose. Light us up, Father, to make us a reflection of You.  In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Accusing

God might kill me, but I have no other hope. I am going to argue my case with him. But this is what will save me—I am not godless. If I were, I could not stand before him.
Job 13:15-16 NLT

I'm reading the Bible in chronological order this year, and currently studying through the Book of Job. It has always been my least favorite book of Scripture. I can't say that I've ever studied it before. I've read through it, but after the first time, at best, I skimmed through, much like we often do with the "begets" - you know, "the son of Zerubbabel, the son of Shealtiel, the son of Neri, the son of Melchi, the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er..." Although as I've gotten older, I'm more interested in the biblical genealogies. And now, I am also interested in Job.

There is no one I know who will deny Job's tragedies were horrendous. And it's where casual believers begin to question God's goodness when they read how Job's heartaches began. I won't go into all the he-said-then-he-saids other than to say, through the first 13 chapters, all of the monologues had some Truth in them. (I thank God for www.biblegateway.com. I admit, it helps me to use the Easy-to-Read version so I can grasp a better understanding.)

However, I will fast-forward to the here and now because God's Word is eternal and is always relatable. When most people suffer loss, the first thing they do is accuse God. By and large, people mistakenly believe that living a Christian life exempts us from suffering. Au contraire... There are no Scripture references to support that thinking.

It is in the dark times that our faith grows - if we will turn TO God instead of away from Him. It is in the loss, the suffering yet continuing to hope in God that we find His strength and Grace. The Word assures us that ALL things work together for our good. The good and the bad. The sun and the rain. The pruning and the fertilizer...

Prayer:

Father,
            Forgive us for judging anything You do. Open our eyes to see Your goodness and embrace Your process for us. We pray as David prayed, Make us to know Your ways, O Lord; teach us Your paths. Lead us in Your truth and teach us, for You are the God of our salvation. Remember Your mercy, O Lord, and Your steadfast love, for they have been from of old. Remember not the sins of our youth or our transgressions; according to Your steadfast love remember us, for the sake of Your goodness, O Lord! In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Intentional Acts

Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and he will grant you his blessing.

1 Peter 3:9 NLT

Worldwide, there is an anti-bullying movement. Websites, organizations, crisis prevention and in-school programs, and even the government at StopBullying.gov. There are clothing lines, posters, and entire print ads and TV ad campaigns promoting "Be Kind" with the premise that we don't know what someone may be going through. 

It's a great movement. Heralded as an idea whose time has come... However, it was first espoused in the Bible - Old and New Testament. According to our Promise for Today, it is what God called us to do!

Listed below are multiple Scriptures in support of being kind, but obviously not all that are written. Kindness is to be an intentional act, not a maybe...

Job 6:14 NIV - Anyone who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

Proverbs 11:17 NIV - Those who are kind benefit themselves, but the cruel bring ruin on themselves.

Proverbs 19:17 NIV - Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.

Proverbs 31:26 - She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

Luke 6:35 NLT - Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Galatians 6:10 - So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Ephesians 4:32 - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:12 NLT - Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

1 John 3:18 - Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

Be kind on purpose. 

Prayer:

Father,

           We want to be more like You. We want our character to truly reflect Your character. Show us how we can be conduits of Your kindness, compassion, and forgiveness to the people You have purposefully placed in our lives. Open our hearts to remember Your Word and live our lives according to Your purpose for us. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

It's Not Fair

"One of you might have to suffer even when you have done nothing wrong. If you think of God and bear the pain, this pleases God. But if you are punished for doing wrong, there is no reason to praise you for bearing that punishment. But if you suffer for doing good and you are patient, this pleases God. This is what you were chosen to do. Christ gave you an example to follow. He suffered for you. So you should do the same as he did:
'He never sinned, and he never told a lie.'
People insulted him, but he did not insult them back. He suffered, but he did not threaten anyone. No, he let God take care of him. God is the one who judges rightly."
1 Peter 2:19-23 ERV

Have you ever gotten in trouble for something you didn't do? Have you ever felt as though you were in an interminable season of life where everything or someone was against you and none of it was because of something you did? How did you handle it? Did you want revenge or were you able to forgive and turn it over to God?

The Bible tells us that whoever angers us controls us, which is a terrifying thought. Better to forgive so that we can be forgiven, too. We must learn to live and love like Jesus who cried out from the Cross, "Forgive them, Father..." Talk about 'not fair'.
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An excerpt from the Encouraging Word Bible reads,
"Vengeance fixes your attention at life’s ugliest moments. Score-settling freezes your stare at cruel events in your past. Is this where you want to look? Will rehearsing and reliving your hurts make you a better person? By no means. It will destroy you."

"Folks, if you’re expecting to be given a fair shake in your life, forget it! You won’t be. You’re going to face illness. And your body is going to wear out. You may be the victim of someone else’s mistake. But you can get through those tough times if you prepare your heart now, living to know and serve the Savior who loves you and died so that you might have an eternal home free of pain and sorrow.

"The struggles that you’re going through now—don’t discard them. Listen to God as He teaches you so that you can teach others. You see, a time of suffering teaches us something we never knew before and may prepare us for a time of counsel that we will give someone years from now...

"Trying to avoid suffering in this life is like trying to avoid breathing. It can’t be done. As a matter of fact, the Bible says that those who desire to live a godly lifestyle will suffer. Ask God how your suffering can bring you closer to Him. Then thank Him that He is a good God no matter what you’re going through."
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Prayer:

Father,
            We don't always understand trials and tribulations, but humbly we ask, as we forgive and turn them over to You, please help us to embrace what You would have us learn from it. We want to be a reflection of Your Light and love in this world. Let our only thoughts of fair be with regard to countenance. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Reminder to Stick with It

But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.

Luke 8:15 The Message

Have you ever thought about a seed? I mean, since grade school when you put the lima bean in the plastic cup with the paper towel and kept it moist. However, thinking back on that, do you remember the wonder and amazement you felt watching it germinate and grow? And even though as a child, it seemed like it took forever, it really was only a few days.

Think about that for just a moment. In that one hard, dry bean - useless in that state, until water is added either to cook it or grow it - there is enough life to eventually produce a bumper crop if you were to stick with it. In one apple, there is an orchard. In a kernel of corn is the potential for acres and acres of golden tassels blowing in the breeze.

In the parable of the sower, the seed is sown everywhere. Everyone has the opportunity to reap a harvest from the seed given to them. In The Message Bible, Luke 8:11-14, Jesus explains, The seed is the Word of God. The seeds on the road are those who hear the Word, but no sooner do they hear it than the Devil snatches it from them so they won't believe and be saved. The seeds in the gravel are those who hear with enthusiasm, but the enthusiasm doesn't go very deep. It's only another fad, and the moment there's trouble it's gone. And the seed that fell in the weeds—well, these are the ones who hear, but then the seed is crowded out and nothing comes of it as they go about their lives worrying about tomorrow, making money, and having fun.  

And then today's text, But the seed in the good earth—these are the good-hearts who seize the Word and hold on no matter what, sticking with it until there's a harvest.

Okay, let's think about one more thing. Our lives without Christ. Most of us were one hard, dry life - and useless - until the Living Water (Jesus) was added to it. Then slowly, but surely, we began to grow. He plants us where He wants us, where we're gonna get the most growth, the right temperature, the right light, the best environment. Sometimes, there's cultivating,  pruning, and fertilizer - none of which is fun, but all are necessary for growth. If we seize the Word and hold on - No Matter What - and stick with it, there will be a harvest.

Let's stick with it.

Prayer:

Father, 
            We don't always understand the process of growing, but we know that You are in control. You are the Creator of life and the Author and Finisher of our faith. You are the Alpha and the Omega, Beginning and the End. Your Word assures us that You've got it covered and we choose to trust You. Help us to stick with it. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

Longsuffering of Hope

Then the Lord said, “What have you done? You killed your brother and the ground opened up to take his blood from your hands. Now his blood is shouting to me from the ground. So you will be cursed from this ground. Now when you work the soil, the ground will not help your plants grow. You will not have a home in this land."
Genesis 4:10-12a ERV

This is part of the LORD's declaration to Cain (the farmer) after Cain murdered his brother Abel. And as Cain left the land, the line of descendants began to be listed. The curse on the land remained for the next 9 generations. It is generally believed to be about 1,250 years until Noah was born.

Noah was the tenth generation from the start of man, the ninth generation from the murder of Abel. When Noah was born, his father declared over him, “Out of the ground that the Lord has cursed, this one shall bring us relief from our work and from the painful toil of our hands.”  Imagine being a relative at the birth of Noah and hearing that this baby boy will bring relief from the curse that has been on the land for over a THOUSAND years! They were obviously still aware of it or the relief wouldn't be such an announcement. 

The sad thing about it is there was the hope that relief would come, but it didn't happen immediately so the people lost their hope of it and just gave up following God. They had ample time to repent and turn again to God, but they did not. Noah was 500 years old when God warned him about the flood. He was 600 years old when the flood erupted and the rains came. 

Today I see Him as the God of Hope to those who intentionally follow Him. If He said it, He will do it. Don't lose hope.

Prayer:

Father,

           You are faithful and trustworthy. Even if we don't see the fulfillment in our time, we choose to put our hope and trust in You, knowing Your Word accomplishes what it is sent to do. Help us to remain steadfast and sure, rooted in Your Word. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

hat I had not ever thought about as far as the timing of it.

No Plan B

And BEFORE THE WORLD WAS MADE, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. [emphasis mine]
Ephesians 1:5 ERV

Through the years, I have worked for various employers who always had to have a backup plan for whatever plan they created. After hearing a proposed plan, there were also those who would ask, "What's your Plan B?" In reality and in their defense, I believe they were driven by a desire to succeed and were trying to provide for all contingencies, known and unknown, utilizing as many plans as deemed necessary to cover all the bases.

Today, I started a new (to me) Bible plan for reading God's Word all the way through in a year. This one is laid out in chronological order, starting with Genesis 1, 2 and 3. The focus of this plan is to look for who God is, and how His character is portrayed. In the first few chapters of Genesis, I've always seen Him as the Authority, the Creator, Maker of the Rules, Judge, Disciplinarian. How often have we read about the fall of man and thought, "Well, we messed that up - what's Plan B?" and maybe not consciously, but somehow believed God had to come up with another plan to fix that first one.

I'm embarrassed to admit that I have never connected the dots before. I've never seen "God as Love" in the creation story. But today, He revealed Himself as the Lover of my soul. I just kept thinking "before the foundation of the Earth..." and it finally connected. God is eternal - Alpha and Omega. Nothing shocks or shakes Him off the Throne. He planned for our redemption BEFORE the world was made. Read again our Promise for Today - "And BEFORE THE WORLD WAS MADE, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it."

Christ coming to Earth as our Savior was NOT Plan B to fix what we had broken. He already knew we would be broken. God's Plan A was, is, and will always be eternal.

Prayer:

Father,
          Thank You for Your promises that never fail. For Your love that never fails. For Your Plan that cannot fail for those who choose Christ. Thank You for providing salvation before You ever created the first human. And thank You that Your Plan is eternal so we are included. Help us to grasp Your Truth and be as sure as Paul was "that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen