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The people of Israel had been spared from all of the miracles that had been happening to Egypt. Tonights miracle they would have to prepare for with blood from a lamb or young goat on the tops and sides of their doorframes. "And that night at Midnight the Lord struck down all the firstborn sons in the land of Egypt, from the first born son of Pharaoh, wo sat oh his throne, to the firstborn son fo the prisoner in the dungeon. Even the firstborn of their livestock were killed." This is the passover because it's the the night the Lord passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. What an exit.....Pharaoh sent for Moses and Aaron during the night and ordered them to leave with everything but to bless him before they leave.
"The Lord also caused the Egyptians to look favorabley on the Israelites, and they gave the Israelites whatever they asked for. So the stripped the Egyptians of their wealth." 430 years the people of Israel had lived in Egypt on the last day of the 430th year was when they left.
In Matthew today Jesus snaps when he enters the Temple in Jerusalem and sees people buying and selling animals for sacrifice. He knocks over the tables of money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, "The Scriptures declair, 'My Temple will be called a house of prayer,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves!" Jesus performs miracles in the Temple then he returns to Bethany for the night. The next morning, as he was returning to Jerusalem, he was hungry and noticed a fig tree with only leaves. Then he said to it "May you never bear fruit again!" and immediately the fig tree withered up. The disciples once again were amazed. Jesus told them, "I tell you the truth, if you have the faith and don't doubt you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, 'May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' and it will happen. You can pray for anythig and if you have faith, you will receive it." I can contest that that is true! I haven't tried to toss a mountain into the sea but do have a wonderful wife, incredible children.....two things myself, as well as many of my family members, thought I would never have.... Matthew 19:26 :)
Jan 30th - God Makes A Mess Of Egypt
At this point even the Pharaoh's officials are begging him to let the people go because Egypt lies in ruins after all the miracles God has done. Pharaoh tells Moses that only the men can go worship the Lord. God then tells Moses, "Raise your hand over the land of Egypt to bring on the locusts. Let them cover the land and devour every plant that survived the hailstorm." So he does and they do. Pharaoh agains summoned Moses and Aaron and begs him to plead with the lord to get rid of the locusts. So Moses does and God hardened Pharaoh's heart so he wouldn't let the people go. We move on to pure darkness over the land of Egypt for 3 days and then the one last final blow is being set up to where Pharaoh will order Moses and His people to go......
In Matthew Jesus is firing off more parables and as he was going up to Jerusalem and took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "Listen, we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. The will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead." How's that for a downer speach from the big cheese himself.
In Matthew Jesus is firing off more parables and as he was going up to Jerusalem and took the twelve disciples aside privately and told them what was going to happen to him. "Listen, we're going up to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be betrayed to the leading priests and the teachers of religious law. The will sentence him to die. Then they will hand him over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged with a whip, and crucified. But on the third day he will be raised from the dead." How's that for a downer speach from the big cheese himself.
Jan 29 - Frogs In The Bed.....Really?
Moses continues to do Gods work and show Pharaoh miracles that even his magicians can't do. OK call me girly but Moses tells Aaron to rais the staff over all the rivers, canals and ponds of Egypt and BOOM frogs came out of the waters everywhere and covered the land. They were in the beds, ovens, kneading bowls you name it and kermit was there! Pharaoh throws in the towl and asks Moses "Plead with the Lord to take the frogs away from me and my people. I will let your people go, so they can offer sacrifices to the Lord." So Moses does and the frogs all drop dead so the Egyptians pilled them up.....stinky. Pharaoh didn't tell Moses he had his fingers crossed and he refuses to let the people go just as the Lord had predicted. This goes on with a few more miracles - gnats, swarms of flies, deadly plagues on the animals. Pharaoh keeps refusing to let the people go because God had hardened his heart.
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you don't, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth. By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. But I have spared you for a purpose-to show you my powere and to spread my fame throught the earth. But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go. So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm more devastating thean any in all the history of Egypt." And he doesn't so God does.......
Matthew today Jesus gives more insight to the disciples and they ask him "Then who in the world can be saved?"
Jeaparsus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." All I have to say is Amen to that!
Then the Lord said to Moses, "Get up early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh. Tell him, This is what the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, says: Let my people go, so they can worship me. If you don't, I will send more plagues on you and your officials and your people. Then you will know that there is no one like me in all the earth. By now I could have lifted my hand and struck you and your people with a plague to wipe you off the face of the earth. But I have spared you for a purpose-to show you my powere and to spread my fame throught the earth. But you still lord it over my people and refuse to let them go. So tomorrow at this time I will send a hailstorm more devastating thean any in all the history of Egypt." And he doesn't so God does.......
Matthew today Jesus gives more insight to the disciples and they ask him "Then who in the world can be saved?"
Jeaparsus looked at them intently and said, "Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible." All I have to say is Amen to that!
Jan 28 - Pharaoh Demands Miracles
Moses and Aaron continue to confront Pharaoh and do the things God is telling them. He throws his staff down in front of Pharaoh and it turns into a snake. Pharaoh's magicians do the same. He turns the Nile to blood and the Magicians turn water to blood also so Pharaohs heart is still hard and he refuses to let the Israelites go.........oh boy is he in for a whoooping over the next few readings as God brings his fist down on Egypt!
In Matthew Jesus talks about marriage in Gods eyes. I think now a days marriage is taken all to lightly. "Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied. "They record that from the beginning God made them male and female. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together."
The Pharisees ask "Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?" Jesus replied, "Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery-unless his wife has been unfaithful." Don't shoot the messenger......
You know what's funny is that when Boo and I first got married and we would bump into people they would see us so in love they would say "Oh newlyweds give it a few years" As if a few years later we would be hating each other. Well it's been 3 and 1/2 years and I still love my wife as much as a man could! Sure it's a lot of work and we have our struggles but not once will divorce be an option. It won't even tempt our hearts as option as long as we continue to keep God first in our lives.....that's how I see it:)
In Matthew Jesus talks about marriage in Gods eyes. I think now a days marriage is taken all to lightly. "Haven't you read the Scriptures?" Jesus replied. "They record that from the beginning God made them male and female. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together."
The Pharisees ask "Then why did Moses say in the law that a man could give his wife a written notice of divorce and send her away?" Jesus replied, "Moses permitted divorce only as a concession to your hard hearts, but it was not what God had originally intended. And I tell you this, whoever divorces his wife and marries someone else commits adultery-unless his wife has been unfaithful." Don't shoot the messenger......
You know what's funny is that when Boo and I first got married and we would bump into people they would see us so in love they would say "Oh newlyweds give it a few years" As if a few years later we would be hating each other. Well it's been 3 and 1/2 years and I still love my wife as much as a man could! Sure it's a lot of work and we have our struggles but not once will divorce be an option. It won't even tempt our hearts as option as long as we continue to keep God first in our lives.....that's how I see it:)
Jan 27 - Moses Argues With God...and wins one:)
How cool is it that Moses continually shows doubt yet God uses him anyway. God tells him to tell the people God sent him and He would be with Moses to help him. His response "What if they wont believe me or listen to me." The Lord tells Moses I will use you to show many signs like turning the Nile River turn blood. Moses pleads with God again "O Lord, I'm not very good with words. I never have been....my words get tangled." So God points out that He is the one that decides whether people speak or not and that He would instruct Moses. Moses answer "Lord please! Send anyone else."
Then the Lord became angry with Moses. "All right," he said. "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on the way to meet you now." He goes onto say "He will be your mouth piece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say." So they meet up and head off to Egypt. They get to Egypt and Moses does as God told him and things backfire. Pharaoh orders all the slaves to make bricks without giving them straw so now every one is against Moses. I wonder what Moses was feeling at this point constantly doubting that he is the one to do this then he jumps in, well is shoved in, and things are going all array. All we can do in these situations is know Gods promise that He is with us and continually ask for His help.
In Matthew today Jesus tells the disciples "Unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Humility......love to see it when it does show up:)
Then the Lord became angry with Moses. "All right," he said. "What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he speaks well. And look! He is on the way to meet you now." He goes onto say "He will be your mouth piece, and you will stand in the place of God for him, telling him what to say." So they meet up and head off to Egypt. They get to Egypt and Moses does as God told him and things backfire. Pharaoh orders all the slaves to make bricks without giving them straw so now every one is against Moses. I wonder what Moses was feeling at this point constantly doubting that he is the one to do this then he jumps in, well is shoved in, and things are going all array. All we can do in these situations is know Gods promise that He is with us and continually ask for His help.
In Matthew today Jesus tells the disciples "Unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven." Humility......love to see it when it does show up:)
Jan 26 - Moses Gets The Call!
Moses leading God's people out of Egypt is one of the most known periods in history. I am a sap for the Charlton Heston movie The Ten Commandments Boo bought it for me this year. It gets lots of playtime in the DVD player. I love the fact that God uses someone that is so unsure and imperfect to do the small task of leading the Hebrews out of Egypt. Go toe to toe with Pharaoh and win.....with a little of His help of coarse. We watched Evan Almighty today and Steve Carell does, what I think, is an incredible job with the role. His mannerisms and facial expressions are hilarious but also quite true. He is transforming in crazy ways right before peoples eyes and they still don't believe that God is involved. Every step along the way there is unbelief and criticism just thinking he's nuts because he thinks God has asked him to basically become a modern day Noah. It seems that things aren't much different then back in the old testament. We'll read how Pharaoh doesn't release the people even though devastating things are happening as Moses says it Will. We read everyday how Jesus is mocked and ridiculed by the Pharisees even though he performs ridiculous miracles.
I personally didn't believe in the whole God thing until I experienced it. We used to Joke about "Find Jesus". What is he in a closet or something, hiding under the bed? Some people just say "It's nice you have something to believe in that makes you happy." I just hope those people someday can see what I see and realize that the truth is freeing and the incredible love you feel is awesome. Is it easy all the time....heck no. Do I have bad days and question God? Certainly but so did Moses and look how things turned out for him. He was entrusted with one of the biggest tasks in the Bible. Right now I feel as though God has entrusted me with a huge task of being a Godly man, head of my house, raising my daughters to know Jesus and loving my wife as Jesus loved the church. Cool tasks that I enjoy being the bearer of everyday:)
I personally didn't believe in the whole God thing until I experienced it. We used to Joke about "Find Jesus". What is he in a closet or something, hiding under the bed? Some people just say "It's nice you have something to believe in that makes you happy." I just hope those people someday can see what I see and realize that the truth is freeing and the incredible love you feel is awesome. Is it easy all the time....heck no. Do I have bad days and question God? Certainly but so did Moses and look how things turned out for him. He was entrusted with one of the biggest tasks in the Bible. Right now I feel as though God has entrusted me with a huge task of being a Godly man, head of my house, raising my daughters to know Jesus and loving my wife as Jesus loved the church. Cool tasks that I enjoy being the bearer of everyday:)
Jan 25 - The Israelites Become Slaves
We move on through the entire family of Jacob. Joseph was allowed to go back to Canaan and bury his father. He then returns to Egypt and his brothers fear that he will now seek revenge for what they did to him. His brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. "Look we are your slaves!" Joseph gives the only response he can "Don't be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?" He said that God inteneded the entire situation for good even though his brothers meant to harm him. He brought Joseph to that position so he could save many lives. What a great response. This is something that I think many people struggle with especially with everything going on. We don't always understand what God's putting us through but we can be sure that He is with us and that we may not think the path he's taking us on is so hot but in the end it will be for the good!
Joseph and all his brothers died but their descendants, the Israeliteds, multilpied and filled the land. Now a new king comes to power in Egypt and he doesn't know anyting about Joseph or what he had done. He was nervouse about the people of Israel and how powerful the could be because they outnumbered them. So he enslaves them.
We move on to Moses being born in todays reading as well. I think we all know the story of moses and how Pharaoh gave an order to "Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River." Well they missed Moses who was named by the Egyptian princes "I lifted him out of the water.".....Exodus 1:15 - 2:10
Joseph and all his brothers died but their descendants, the Israeliteds, multilpied and filled the land. Now a new king comes to power in Egypt and he doesn't know anyting about Joseph or what he had done. He was nervouse about the people of Israel and how powerful the could be because they outnumbered them. So he enslaves them.
We move on to Moses being born in todays reading as well. I think we all know the story of moses and how Pharaoh gave an order to "Throw every newborn Hebrew boy into the Nile River." Well they missed Moses who was named by the Egyptian princes "I lifted him out of the water.".....Exodus 1:15 - 2:10
Jan 24 - Jesus Feeds 4000
Today...well last nights reading has Jacob passing on so he calls together all his sons and tells them what will happen to each of them. Some get good news others not so good. He doesn't sugar coat anything when it comes to what their future holds. He blessed each son with an appropriate message. He then tells them to bury him with his father and grndfather in the cave that Abraham bought from the Hittites and dies.
Jeses performs another miracle by feeding 4,000 people with only seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Once again the disciples weren't believing. There was a huge crowd that came to listen to Jesus and with only seven loaves of bread and a few fish they didn't know what to do. So Jesus does the same thing he did before and blesses the food then broke them into pieces and had the disciples start giving the food out. The had 7 large baskets left over.
Jeses performs another miracle by feeding 4,000 people with only seven loaves of bread and a few fish. Once again the disciples weren't believing. There was a huge crowd that came to listen to Jesus and with only seven loaves of bread and a few fish they didn't know what to do. So Jesus does the same thing he did before and blesses the food then broke them into pieces and had the disciples start giving the food out. The had 7 large baskets left over.
Jan 23 - Jacob moves to Egypt
Jacob adn all his possessions and direct descendants went to Egypt. God calls to Jacob and says "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. But you will die in Egypt with Joseph attending to you." Now the famine is still going on and people are starting to run out of food and money. Eventually people of Egypt and Canaan were out of food, money and had traded all their livestock for the food they just finished. So they return to Joseph and sell him all their land and themselves as slaves for Pharaoh so they could have food to live. Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh except for the priests land. As for the people, he made them all slaves, all except the priests. The decree handed down is still in effect today in the land of Egypt, Pharaoh should receive one-fifth of all the crops grown on his land.
Jesus is teaching and fireing off parables. Here's a Great one: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God." Then Jesus called to the crowed to come and hear. "Listen," he said, "and try to understand. It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth." So True! Words can be forever damaging. Once you say something it's out there nothing in the world can remove it.
Now it's time to start making some changes to how I do my bible study. Still trying to figure out the best way to really dig in and connect Stovall Weems our pastor just had a great service on how he does his devotionals. Check it out: Click
Have a Great night!
Jesus is teaching and fireing off parables. Here's a Great one: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God." Then Jesus called to the crowed to come and hear. "Listen," he said, "and try to understand. It's not what goes into your mouth that defiles you; you are defiled by the words that come out of your mouth." So True! Words can be forever damaging. Once you say something it's out there nothing in the world can remove it.
Now it's time to start making some changes to how I do my bible study. Still trying to figure out the best way to really dig in and connect Stovall Weems our pastor just had a great service on how he does his devotionals. Check it out: Click
Have a Great night!
Jan 22 - Peter walks on water
Joseph finally tells his brothers who he is. "I am your brother Joseph whom you sold into slavery in Egypt. But don't be upset, and don't be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives." Pharaoh and his officials were delighted to here Joseph's brothers had arrived. Pharaoh told Joseph to have his brothers return to Canaan and gather up their father and families and return to Egypt and he would give them the best land in Egypt. They returned and explained everything to their father and Jacob exclaimed It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die." Josephs dreams that ultimately got him sold into slavery were coming true. God had taken him on one heck of a rocky path to get him to where God wanted to use him.
Jesus feeds 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish and there were 12 baskets of leftovers. After the fishfry Jesus went into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble fighting heavy waves. Jesus walks on water towards them and the disciples freaked out. Peter calls out "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on water." Jesus says to come so he climbs out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. When Peter noticed the waves and winds he became terrified and started to sink. Jesus reached out and grabbed him. You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?" Another scolding by Jesus. How would I do as a disciple of Jesus in the old days? There are times I step out of my own boat and get a few steps and begin to sink. He may not be here in the flesh but he is definitely here and has kept me from sinking many times!
Jesus feeds 5,000 with five loaves of bread and two fish and there were 12 baskets of leftovers. After the fishfry Jesus went into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone.
Meanwhile, the disciples were in trouble fighting heavy waves. Jesus walks on water towards them and the disciples freaked out. Peter calls out "Lord, if it's really you, tell me to come to you, walking on water." Jesus says to come so he climbs out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. When Peter noticed the waves and winds he became terrified and started to sink. Jesus reached out and grabbed him. You have so little faith. Why did you doubt me?" Another scolding by Jesus. How would I do as a disciple of Jesus in the old days? There are times I step out of my own boat and get a few steps and begin to sink. He may not be here in the flesh but he is definitely here and has kept me from sinking many times!
Jan 21 - John the Baptist loses about 18 lbs.
So Joseph is now messing with his brothers. He tells them if they are really honest men, choose one of your brothers to remain in prison and the rest of them may go home with the grain but they have to bring back the youngest brother. They start thinking they are being punished because of what they did to Joseph.....well technically they are but not by God. Joseph over hears them and is touched. Joseph orders his servants to fill the men's sacks with grain, but he also gave secret instructions to return each brother's payment at the top of his sack. On their travel home they stop fo rthe night and noticed the money was in thee top of the sacks. So now they start freaking out over that! Well they get home explain the whole thing to Jacob and his answer to sending his youngest son back is "My son will not go down with you. His brother Joseph is dead, and he is all I have left." OK not the best thing to say to your sons. I'm telling you a family therapist would rake in the dough back in biblical times!
Ultimately they run out of grain before the famine is over so they have to go back. How would you feel if you were that one sap that was left in jail all that time. They weren't even going to return if they hand't run out of food. Lot of love in this family! So they return with they youngest, Benjamin, the best products of their land as gifts and double the money that was put in their sacks so they could return the original money and buy more food with the extra. When they get there Joseph sees Benjamin and has the family eat with him and gets the other brother out of jail. They still don't know that he is their brother.
Matthew - again Jesus mentions fiery furnice, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. That just doesn't sound like a good place to hang out for all of eternity. Todays reading is an unfortuneate day for John the Baptist for he is beheaded. Matthew 14:3-11 Herods wife wanted it done, so she has his daughter ask for it because he is pleased with a dance she did at his birthday and says he will give her anything she wanted. "I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!" What kind of request is that! I think I would be a little worried if my daughter started asking me for heads on platters.
Ultimately they run out of grain before the famine is over so they have to go back. How would you feel if you were that one sap that was left in jail all that time. They weren't even going to return if they hand't run out of food. Lot of love in this family! So they return with they youngest, Benjamin, the best products of their land as gifts and double the money that was put in their sacks so they could return the original money and buy more food with the extra. When they get there Joseph sees Benjamin and has the family eat with him and gets the other brother out of jail. They still don't know that he is their brother.
Matthew - again Jesus mentions fiery furnice, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. That just doesn't sound like a good place to hang out for all of eternity. Todays reading is an unfortuneate day for John the Baptist for he is beheaded. Matthew 14:3-11 Herods wife wanted it done, so she has his daughter ask for it because he is pleased with a dance she did at his birthday and says he will give her anything she wanted. "I want the head of John the Baptist on a tray!" What kind of request is that! I think I would be a little worried if my daughter started asking me for heads on platters.
Jan 20 - 7 Years Prosperity, 7 Years Famine
We left off with Joseph being called up by Pharaoh to interpret his dream. God gave these people some wacky dreams. He gives the same thing to pregnant women....Boo had some good ones during Eliana's pregnancy! Pharaoh said "I was standing on the bank of the Nile River, and I saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. But then I saw seven sick-looking cows, scrawny and thin, come up after them. I've never seen such sorry-looking animals in all the land of Egypt. These thin, scrawny cows at the seven fat cows. But afterward you wouldn't have known it, for they were still as thin and scrawny as before! Then I woke up."
"Then I fell asleep again, and I had another dream. This time I saw seven heads of grain, full and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads."
Joseph responds that both dreams mean the same thing, you need to lay off the marijuana before bed! Oh wait that's my lamen's response:) Joseph says that basically it's a heads up from God that 7 years of prosperity will be followed by 7 years of famine. Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of all the land, including storing up grain to distribute during the famine and gives him a wife. Well sure enough when the 7 years of famine kicks in and his brothers come to purchase food but they don't recognize him. Of coarse he's a little irritated with what they did to him so he harasses them by calling them spies and throwing all of them but one in prison. The one is to go back home and bring the youngest brother back.
Matthew today is, of coarse, loaded with more great parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. He talks about how a farmer plants good seed in his field but his enemy plants weeds when the workers sleep. They can't pull the weeds because it will uproot the wheat. So it needs to be sorted at harvest time and the weeds burned while the wheat is put in the barn....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Jesus explains his parable in Matthew 13:36-43 He talks about being tossed into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth....YIKES!
And finally today a piece of Proverb 4- My father taught me, "Follow my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom; develop good judgement. Don't forget my words or turn away from them. Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you." Sounds simple enough.......I guess we have to know His words before we can get the wisdom and judgement not to turn away from them.....make sense??
"Then I fell asleep again, and I had another dream. This time I saw seven heads of grain, full and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were blighted, shriveled, and withered by the east wind. And the shriveled heads swallowed the seven healthy heads."
Joseph responds that both dreams mean the same thing, you need to lay off the marijuana before bed! Oh wait that's my lamen's response:) Joseph says that basically it's a heads up from God that 7 years of prosperity will be followed by 7 years of famine. Pharaoh puts Joseph in charge of all the land, including storing up grain to distribute during the famine and gives him a wife. Well sure enough when the 7 years of famine kicks in and his brothers come to purchase food but they don't recognize him. Of coarse he's a little irritated with what they did to him so he harasses them by calling them spies and throwing all of them but one in prison. The one is to go back home and bring the youngest brother back.
Matthew today is, of coarse, loaded with more great parables about the Kingdom of Heaven. He talks about how a farmer plants good seed in his field but his enemy plants weeds when the workers sleep. They can't pull the weeds because it will uproot the wheat. So it needs to be sorted at harvest time and the weeds burned while the wheat is put in the barn....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm Jesus explains his parable in Matthew 13:36-43 He talks about being tossed into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth....YIKES!
And finally today a piece of Proverb 4- My father taught me, "Follow my commands, and you will live. Get wisdom; develop good judgement. Don't forget my words or turn away from them. Don't turn your back on wisdom, for she will protect you. Love her, and she will guard you." Sounds simple enough.......I guess we have to know His words before we can get the wisdom and judgement not to turn away from them.....make sense??
Jan 19 - God Interprets Dreams Through Joseph
Hey Everyone....or should I say anyone?? Today's reading was all about Joseph and his trials as a slave. He was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer, when he arrived in Egypt. The Lord was with Joseph and he succeeded in everything he did and Potiphar realized this so he made Joseph his personal attendant. The Lord began to bless his household for Joseph's sake. Now Potiphar's wife would look at Joseph lustfully and would continually try to get him to sleep with her. Joseph would repeatedly deny her and one time he ran off she tore off his cloak and said he tried to rape her. So of coarse once again Joseph gets the short end of the stick and is tossed in jail. God is with him in jail and he starts to interpret dreams for a couple of other guys in the clink through Joseph. One gets a great reading he's going to be restored to his position so the other guy is all excited and when his dream is interpreted he's going to be impaled on a pole and the birds are going to eat him. Nice....I think I would go back to bed and have a redo! So all of this comes to pass and eventually Pharaoh is told that Joseph can interpret dreams and he needs a dream interpreted so he sends for him. "I had a dream last night, and no one here can tell me what it means. But I have heard that when you hear about a dream you can interpret it." Josephs reply "It is beyond my power to do this, but God can tell you what it means and set you at ease." Cliff hanger! I'll have to find out what happens tomorrow....well I already know because we have the cartoon here at the house. Biblical Charlton Heston movies and cartoons....nothing better....well except The Matrix Trilogy of coarse:)
Jesus is on fire today! As he is everyday. He's firing out parables again and his disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?" He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. that is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. The hear, but they don't really listen or understand." This must be the big issue with the Pharisees being that they just aren't grasping that Jesus is the son of man. He's got a GREAT parable about seeds today. Check it out - Matthew 13:3-23 Unfortunately I find myself to be like the seed that falls in the thorns sometimes and I like to think good soil sometimes too....My goal is by year end to be like the seed that fell on good soil all the time:)
Jesus is on fire today! As he is everyday. He's firing out parables again and his disciples came and asked him, "Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?" He replied, "You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them. that is why I use these parables, For they look, but they don't really see. The hear, but they don't really listen or understand." This must be the big issue with the Pharisees being that they just aren't grasping that Jesus is the son of man. He's got a GREAT parable about seeds today. Check it out - Matthew 13:3-23 Unfortunately I find myself to be like the seed that falls in the thorns sometimes and I like to think good soil sometimes too....My goal is by year end to be like the seed that fell on good soil all the time:)
Jan 18 - Joseph has some dreams
Good Morning everyone! I did my reading last night but am blogging this morning. The Internet and everything was shut down and after a day with the energizer bunny child and the other one feeding every couple of hours and she's not sleeping well I was to tired to fire up the computer....etc:)
This is all about Josephs dreams and how it gets him into trouble. It talks about when Joseph was 17 he tended his father's flocks working for his half brothers the sons of Jacobs wives Bilhah and Zilpah. Now Jacob loved Joseph the most and gave him a special gift-a beautiful robe. This caused his brothers to hate him because their father loved him more than the them. One night Joseph has a dream. "Listen to this dream," he said to his brothers. "We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!" His brother responded, "So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?" Now they hate him even more!
Joseph has another dream and again tells his brothers and his father "The sun, moon and eleven stars bowed low before me!" So the old mans wondering what the dream meant but his brothers are just furious. I think I would have kept that dream in my pocket!
Josephs brothers plot to kill him but instead sell him off into slavery then killed a young goat and dipped Joseph's robe in it's blood. The sent the robe to their father with this message: "Look at what we found. Doesn't this robe belong to your son?" So now Jacob thinks a wild animal has eaten Joseph and he is very distraught. "I will go to my grave mourning for my son."
Judah leaves home and gets caught up in this bizarre turn of events that causes him to sleep with Tamar (whom he thought was a prostitute) the woman he had arranged for his first born, Er, but he had died because in the Lord's sight he was a wicked man. This is after his other son Onan was given her to produce a child but he didn't want to so whenever he be ready to go Old Faithful on her he would aim his flashlight at the ground if you know what I mean, so not to impregnate her. So Judah's encounter get's her pregnant with Twins and when they are being born one of the babies sticks it's hand out, they tie a string on it's wrist to say "This one came out first." Well like all children he had another plan. He pulled his arm back in and his brother came out first Perez. Then he came out Zerah. Not sure of the significance of the string event but we'll see......
At what point in history was family therapy brought into play???
In Matthew today the Pharisees now state that Jesus must get his powers from Satan to be able to cast out demons. Jesus has, of coarse, a phenomenal reply "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said." He goes on to lay down parables about trees being identified by their fruit..good or bad. What fruit have you produced lately? I like to think I'm doing a little part to produce good fruit everyday even if it's as simple as teaching my daughter something small.
Final thought is from Matthew 12:38-40 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority." But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights." What the heck were they looking for? Whatever it would be I'm sure wouldn't satisfy them. He's already performed numerous miracles and they still didn't believe.....He should have kept it simple and pulled a rabbit out of a hat, maybe do sweet card trick or cut one of his disciples in half and put them back together:) Instead he's doing all these little things like raising the dead and casting out demons with the big show still to come......
This is all about Josephs dreams and how it gets him into trouble. It talks about when Joseph was 17 he tended his father's flocks working for his half brothers the sons of Jacobs wives Bilhah and Zilpah. Now Jacob loved Joseph the most and gave him a special gift-a beautiful robe. This caused his brothers to hate him because their father loved him more than the them. One night Joseph has a dream. "Listen to this dream," he said to his brothers. "We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!" His brother responded, "So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?" Now they hate him even more!
Joseph has another dream and again tells his brothers and his father "The sun, moon and eleven stars bowed low before me!" So the old mans wondering what the dream meant but his brothers are just furious. I think I would have kept that dream in my pocket!
Josephs brothers plot to kill him but instead sell him off into slavery then killed a young goat and dipped Joseph's robe in it's blood. The sent the robe to their father with this message: "Look at what we found. Doesn't this robe belong to your son?" So now Jacob thinks a wild animal has eaten Joseph and he is very distraught. "I will go to my grave mourning for my son."
Judah leaves home and gets caught up in this bizarre turn of events that causes him to sleep with Tamar (whom he thought was a prostitute) the woman he had arranged for his first born, Er, but he had died because in the Lord's sight he was a wicked man. This is after his other son Onan was given her to produce a child but he didn't want to so whenever he be ready to go Old Faithful on her he would aim his flashlight at the ground if you know what I mean, so not to impregnate her. So Judah's encounter get's her pregnant with Twins and when they are being born one of the babies sticks it's hand out, they tie a string on it's wrist to say "This one came out first." Well like all children he had another plan. He pulled his arm back in and his brother came out first Perez. Then he came out Zerah. Not sure of the significance of the string event but we'll see......
At what point in history was family therapy brought into play???
In Matthew today the Pharisees now state that Jesus must get his powers from Satan to be able to cast out demons. Jesus has, of coarse, a phenomenal reply "Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said." He goes on to lay down parables about trees being identified by their fruit..good or bad. What fruit have you produced lately? I like to think I'm doing a little part to produce good fruit everyday even if it's as simple as teaching my daughter something small.
Final thought is from Matthew 12:38-40 One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, "Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority." But Jesus replied, "Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights." What the heck were they looking for? Whatever it would be I'm sure wouldn't satisfy them. He's already performed numerous miracles and they still didn't believe.....He should have kept it simple and pulled a rabbit out of a hat, maybe do sweet card trick or cut one of his disciples in half and put them back together:) Instead he's doing all these little things like raising the dead and casting out demons with the big show still to come......
Jan 17 - Geneology...Lots of Geneology
Today is fairly short being that it's mostly genealogy stuff from Esau. We do start the reading off with God talking to Jacob. "Get ready and move to Bethel and settle there. Build an alter there to the God who appeared to you when you fled from your brother, Esau." Because of this Jacob told everyone in his household, "Get rid of all your pagan idols, Purify your selves, and put on clean clothing. We are now going to Bethel, where I will build an altar to the God who answered my prayers when I was in distress. He has been with me where ever I have gone." So they buried all the idols and headed off. Rachael dies today as well. She has one more son and with her last breath she names him Benoni ("son of my sorrow"). The baby's father named him Benjamin ("son of my right hand").
Matthew today has the Pharisees all up in Jesus's grill again...or I should say still. They try to trick him and he never falls for it. He fires out some parables and continues to work miracles right in front of them and all they want to do is kill him. There's got to be a nice warm bench in Hell for these guys.......
Matthew today has the Pharisees all up in Jesus's grill again...or I should say still. They try to trick him and he never falls for it. He fires out some parables and continues to work miracles right in front of them and all they want to do is kill him. There's got to be a nice warm bench in Hell for these guys.......
Jan 16 - Jacob reunites with Esau
Today Jacob is afraid his brother Esau is going to kick his butt when they meet up and he's coming to see him with 400 men. Jacob sends out ahead of him servants with goats, camels, cows and a slew of other animals as a gift to his brother in the hopes that his brother will be forgiving when they meet. He makes sure each servant tells Esau "Look, he is coming right behind us." That night Jacob wrestles with a man until dawn and the man touches Jacob's him and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, "Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!" Jacob said, "I will not let you go unless you bless me." The man tells Jacob "Your name will no longer be Jacob. From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have one." How you like them apples he wrestled with God all night long! "I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been spared." You WWF Smackdown'd with the big cheese and didn't lose! Now when Jacob meets up with Esau he is met with open arms!
There's more crazy stuff that goes on that stems from one of Jacobs daughters being raped and avenged by her brothers. Basically the entire town gets circumcised in order to marry Jacobs daughters and to have their daughters marry Jacobs sons. Well while the town is healing from the little soldiers haircuts two of Dinah's full brothers, Simeon and Levi, go into the town and kill all the men to avenge the rape. Jacob says to Simeon and Levi "You have ruined me! You've made me stink among all the people of this land- among all the Canaanites and Perizzites. We are so few that they will join forces and crush us. I will be ruined, and my entire household will be wiped out!" The retorted angrily "But why should we let him treat our sister like a prostitute?" I personally have to side with the brothers on this one.
In Matthew today Jesus is talking about John the Baptist and how he is the greatest person to ever live. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! He goes on to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn't repented of their sins and turned to God. OK, now this is what I don't get. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure if some guy comes to town and starts doing all kinds of great miracles, like healing the sick and raising the dead, I believe I would listen to what he's got to say and repent.
There's more crazy stuff that goes on that stems from one of Jacobs daughters being raped and avenged by her brothers. Basically the entire town gets circumcised in order to marry Jacobs daughters and to have their daughters marry Jacobs sons. Well while the town is healing from the little soldiers haircuts two of Dinah's full brothers, Simeon and Levi, go into the town and kill all the men to avenge the rape. Jacob says to Simeon and Levi "You have ruined me! You've made me stink among all the people of this land- among all the Canaanites and Perizzites. We are so few that they will join forces and crush us. I will be ruined, and my entire household will be wiped out!" The retorted angrily "But why should we let him treat our sister like a prostitute?" I personally have to side with the brothers on this one.
In Matthew today Jesus is talking about John the Baptist and how he is the greatest person to ever live. Yet even the least person in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he is! He goes on to denounce the towns where he had done so many of his miracles, because they hadn't repented of their sins and turned to God. OK, now this is what I don't get. I'm not positive, but I'm pretty sure if some guy comes to town and starts doing all kinds of great miracles, like healing the sick and raising the dead, I believe I would listen to what he's got to say and repent.
Jan 15 - Jacob sneaks away
So Jacob has had enough he packs up his wives, kids, livestock and all belongings and heads out to return to the land of Canaan where his father, Isaac, lived. Well he gets a few days away and Laban finds out and musters up some of his relatives to track him down. Lucky for Jacob God was with him because he told Laban in a dream "I'm warning you-leave Jacob alone." How would you like Him as a messanger! This is classic when Laban finally catches up to Jacob he starts pulling the guilt trip. "What do you mean by stealing away like this?" Laban demanded. "How dare you drag my daughters away like prisioners of war? Why did you slip away secretly? Why did you steal away? And why didn't you say you wanted to leave? I would have given you a farewell feast, with singing and music, accompanied by tambourines and harps." RIGHT! This guy has been lying and backstabbing Jacob since the beginning taking advantage of his connection with God. He snaps in line 40..check it out Genesis 31:40-42 Everyone loves a good snap:) So they form a covenant not to hurt eachother and life goes on.
Now that Jacob has cleared that up he has to move on to clear up his mess with Esau. He sends messanger ahead to meet with Esau and explain what's been going on and hope that Esau will be friendly to him. The messanger returns and says "We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you-with an army of 400 men!" I'm betting it's not a welcoming party. Jacob freaks out splits his household in two hoping that one group will live if Esau attacks...more sibling rivalry. The worst my sis ever did was tuck me in the dryer and turn it on for a 1/2 a spin....well and there were those times she convinced me to get in a box and ride it down the stairs knowing the box would catch the first step and I would tumble....man I wasn't a very bright kid.
In Matthew today Jesus whips out some more great parables and the mack daddy for us Christians is 10:32 "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven." I truely believe that Jesus is the only way into heaven and love what has happened in my life since I accepted him years ago. The void in my heart has been filled. If you're even remotely curious be sure to check out a local bible based church, if your not curious get around some people that will spark your curiosity!:)
Now that Jacob has cleared that up he has to move on to clear up his mess with Esau. He sends messanger ahead to meet with Esau and explain what's been going on and hope that Esau will be friendly to him. The messanger returns and says "We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you-with an army of 400 men!" I'm betting it's not a welcoming party. Jacob freaks out splits his household in two hoping that one group will live if Esau attacks...more sibling rivalry. The worst my sis ever did was tuck me in the dryer and turn it on for a 1/2 a spin....well and there were those times she convinced me to get in a box and ride it down the stairs knowing the box would catch the first step and I would tumble....man I wasn't a very bright kid.
In Matthew today Jesus whips out some more great parables and the mack daddy for us Christians is 10:32 "Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven." I truely believe that Jesus is the only way into heaven and love what has happened in my life since I accepted him years ago. The void in my heart has been filled. If you're even remotely curious be sure to check out a local bible based church, if your not curious get around some people that will spark your curiosity!:)
Jan 14 - Joseph is born
So today Rachel is upset that God is not providing her with children from Jacob but Leah, Rachel's sister, is having all kinds of kids through Jacob that she gives Jacob her maid to sleep with and bear a child then another. Well the battle goes on so Leah now stops having children so she gives her servant Zilpah to Jacob as a wife. Zilpah presents him with a son then another. One day during the wheat harvest, Reuben, one of Leah's sons, found some mandrakes growing in a field and brought them to his mother. Rachel meets up with Leah and says "I will let Jacob sleep with you tonight if you give me some of the mandrakes." So that night Leah becomes pregnant with her fifth son for Jacob, then a sixth and a daughter. God remembered Rachel's plight and answered her prayers she had had a son named Joseph for she said, "May the Lord add yet another son to my family." All Jacob wants to do is be set free from Laban and take his family back to his home country. Of coarse Laban has other plans but with God's help Jacob ends up with large flocks of goats despite Laban's attempts to keep him from having any.
This week in Matthew Jesus gives instructions to his 12 apostles. Specific instructions on how to enter cities and villages and what to do when they get there and when they leave. He forewarns them that they will be handed over to the courts, flogged with whips in synagogues and stand trial before governors and kings because they are Jesus followers. "When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking - it will be the spirit of your father speaking through you." I think we have that blessing sometimes it's just a matter of being open to receive it before we open mouth and insert foot:) I'm getting better, when it happens now it's usually just the front part of the foot, it used to be right to the ankle.
It's officially the 15th but I'm sneaking back into this post because I completely missed talking about the Psalm last night. To sleepy with all the baby stuff going on it didn't register:) Psalm 12:1-2 "Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neigbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts." The world is like a big bowl of gumbo. It's different everywhere you go yet full of good people and meatheads. It's awesome to see so many rally for Haiti and their devistation with monies, time and other resources and on the other side you see these rediculous bonuses going to CEO for driving companies into the ground so they can buy their penthouses. Bernie scams people out of billions of $$$ while others give millions to help create a better world. Just makes me wonder what goes through peoples minds when they take something they know they don't deserve or lie to someone to better help their personal agenda.
This week in Matthew Jesus gives instructions to his 12 apostles. Specific instructions on how to enter cities and villages and what to do when they get there and when they leave. He forewarns them that they will be handed over to the courts, flogged with whips in synagogues and stand trial before governors and kings because they are Jesus followers. "When you are arrested, don't worry about how to respond or what to say. God will give you the right words at the right time. For it is not you who will be speaking - it will be the spirit of your father speaking through you." I think we have that blessing sometimes it's just a matter of being open to receive it before we open mouth and insert foot:) I'm getting better, when it happens now it's usually just the front part of the foot, it used to be right to the ankle.
It's officially the 15th but I'm sneaking back into this post because I completely missed talking about the Psalm last night. To sleepy with all the baby stuff going on it didn't register:) Psalm 12:1-2 "Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth! Neigbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts." The world is like a big bowl of gumbo. It's different everywhere you go yet full of good people and meatheads. It's awesome to see so many rally for Haiti and their devistation with monies, time and other resources and on the other side you see these rediculous bonuses going to CEO for driving companies into the ground so they can buy their penthouses. Bernie scams people out of billions of $$$ while others give millions to help create a better world. Just makes me wonder what goes through peoples minds when they take something they know they don't deserve or lie to someone to better help their personal agenda.
Jan 13 - Jacob gets swindled
The more I read the more crazy messed up these old testament families seem to be. We start with Cain killing his brother Abel, Abram telling people his wife is his sister, then his wife Sarai gives Abram her servant to make a child, Abrahams nephew Lot has two daughters that get him drunk two nights in a row and each have relations with him getting them pregnant, Esau and Jacob have issues now Jacob works for his uncle for 7 years and as promised should be getting married to Rachel but Laban snookers him and he ends up sleeping with her sister Leah who starts shooting out kids left and right but Rachel is not able to have any. He does also get Rachel but it's another 7 years of work. All families have issues but some of these catastrophic incredible situations are crazy and you wonder why God would want them in His word. Is it so we can relate to some of the great prophets God used to do powerful things in His name? All I know is there's a bigger picture that He can see....we are just pieces, short stories, so to speak, as part of His humungo script:)
Jan 12 - Jacob is blessed with Esau's blessing
It seems that the more you read in the bible the more messed up family stuff you can find! Esau was the first born of Isaac therefore was suppose to get his blessing. Well Rebekah loved Jacob more so she planned a scheme and Isaac in his old blind state ends up blessing Jacob with everything! Sibling rivalry at it's best in biblical times. Cain and Abel remake:) Esau is so distraught that he gets nothing he plans to kill his brother but mom gets wind of it and she sends Jacob away until his brother calms down. This is fulfilling what the Lord said yesterday about the rivalry and older son serving the younger one. It seems there was a lot of messed up stuff that went on in the old testament and these were all imperfect people that God used to do great things and build many nations. It's nice to know that we may mess up from time to time but that doesn't toss us out of the ring for being used by God to do incredible things!
Jesus was here on earth doing God's work in the flesh and was not looking to just hang out with the righteous. Jesus says: "Healthy people don't need a doctor sick people do. Then he added, Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." This is right after the Pharisees question why Jesus is sitting with tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. They constantly continue to question why Jesus is doing what he's doing and scream blasphemy when he acts like God. I guess when your heart is hardened there are no amount of miracles that will make you believe. Hopefully the slow drissle of God's work on the heart would help those that are lost to see.....took me a few years:)
Jesus was here on earth doing God's work in the flesh and was not looking to just hang out with the righteous. Jesus says: "Healthy people don't need a doctor sick people do. Then he added, Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: 'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners." This is right after the Pharisees question why Jesus is sitting with tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. They constantly continue to question why Jesus is doing what he's doing and scream blasphemy when he acts like God. I guess when your heart is hardened there are no amount of miracles that will make you believe. Hopefully the slow drissle of God's work on the heart would help those that are lost to see.....took me a few years:)
Jan 11 - Isaac has a hairy kid
It's been a bummer day for me. Had one heck of a headache which cause some vomiting. We started our 21 day fast and I think the shock of all the junk I ate in December and early January being completely pulled, no caffeine, no sugars...sent my body into a whiny shock eating only fruits, veggies and fruit juices. Note to self....no huge splurging on the junk next year before the fast:)
Reading more about Abraham and his descendants through Ishmael and mainly Isaac. Abraham's servant did bring Isaac's bride back to him and he had twins with her after Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. Now while the twins were in Rebekah's womb the struggled with each other. God said "The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son." The first born was very red at birth and covered with thick hair I imagine looking like Chubaka, they named him Esau. The other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau's heel so they named him Jacob. Isaac was 60 when the twins were born. I sure hope the human body didn't deteriorate at the rate it does today how else would you keep up with twins at 60?! It's quite and interesting story between the brothers you should give it a read!
We jump into the new testament and Jesus works more miracles. He casts these demons out of people sends them into pigs who then run down a hill into the water and drown. OK I am a sap for the old movies like The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston. TBN plays all kinds of these old biblical movies. They had a great one on the other day that was about Jesus and his disciples and what a riveting scene it was to see the pigs scurry down the hill with Incredible 1980's special effects! Well maybe I wouldn't say riveting. Not sure why I love those movies so much...neither is Boo she asks me all the time:) I guess where I'm going with this is if you are right there at the scene of the miracles that are just beyond belief, how can you not believe?!?! Jesus performs tons of miracles and people right there seeing with their own eyes still didn't believe that he was the son of God. As a Christian nowadays we don't have the luxury of walking with Jesus in the flesh and seeing all of these things happening. That's why it's called "walking by faith" I have absolutely no doubt that Jesus was the son of God and was sacrificed for our sins. I can't prove it or explain it but from where I once was and how I felt without Jesus to where I am and now feel with Jesus makes me have no doubt! Yes I still have bad days and question why I'm not driving a Ferrari, living in a mansion with a bank account full of cash when there are unbelievers that have that life. I then look at my incredible wife and beautiful children and thank God for the life I do have and cherish it everyday. Still praying now and again for the Ferrari:)
Reading more about Abraham and his descendants through Ishmael and mainly Isaac. Abraham's servant did bring Isaac's bride back to him and he had twins with her after Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. Now while the twins were in Rebekah's womb the struggled with each other. God said "The sons in your womb will become two nations. From the very beginning, the two nations will be rivals. One nation will be stronger than the other; and your older son will serve your younger son." The first born was very red at birth and covered with thick hair I imagine looking like Chubaka, they named him Esau. The other twin was born with his hand grasping Esau's heel so they named him Jacob. Isaac was 60 when the twins were born. I sure hope the human body didn't deteriorate at the rate it does today how else would you keep up with twins at 60?! It's quite and interesting story between the brothers you should give it a read!
We jump into the new testament and Jesus works more miracles. He casts these demons out of people sends them into pigs who then run down a hill into the water and drown. OK I am a sap for the old movies like The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston. TBN plays all kinds of these old biblical movies. They had a great one on the other day that was about Jesus and his disciples and what a riveting scene it was to see the pigs scurry down the hill with Incredible 1980's special effects! Well maybe I wouldn't say riveting. Not sure why I love those movies so much...neither is Boo she asks me all the time:) I guess where I'm going with this is if you are right there at the scene of the miracles that are just beyond belief, how can you not believe?!?! Jesus performs tons of miracles and people right there seeing with their own eyes still didn't believe that he was the son of God. As a Christian nowadays we don't have the luxury of walking with Jesus in the flesh and seeing all of these things happening. That's why it's called "walking by faith" I have absolutely no doubt that Jesus was the son of God and was sacrificed for our sins. I can't prove it or explain it but from where I once was and how I felt without Jesus to where I am and now feel with Jesus makes me have no doubt! Yes I still have bad days and question why I'm not driving a Ferrari, living in a mansion with a bank account full of cash when there are unbelievers that have that life. I then look at my incredible wife and beautiful children and thank God for the life I do have and cherish it everyday. Still praying now and again for the Ferrari:)
Jan 10 - Abrahams getting old
Todays reading starts with Sarah's death at 127 years old. Abraham purchased the cave of Machpelah in Canaan from Ephron to bury his wife in. This field and cave were transferred from the ittites to Abraham for use as a permanent burial place. Abraham being very old wanted his son to be married but not to any local Canaanite women. He wanted Isaac married to a lady from his homeland, his relatives. It's cool to read on and see how God is involved through all aspects of Abraham's life even involved in finding a wife for Isaac. Abraham's oldest servant goes back to his homeland and with God's help found Rebekah and she was taken back to Isaac to be his wife.
In the new testament this week Jesus does many miracles of healing sick and demon possessed and the days reading ends with a proverb that we should all strive to achieve.......Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.
In the new testament this week Jesus does many miracles of healing sick and demon possessed and the days reading ends with a proverb that we should all strive to achieve.......Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do and he will show you which path to take.
Jan 9 - Pnuts Birthday!
That's right my little girl turned 2 today! Thank you to everyone that came for the party it was a lot of fun....Kids everywhere:) Kind of like Abrahams descendants, more then the stars in the sky! God really puts Abraham to the test today. He tells him to take his only son and o to the land of Moriah and sacrifice him as a burnt offering. So Abraham does as God says and goes to the mountain God showed him, built an altar and arranged the wood on it then tied his son, Isaac and laid him on the altar. He picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice and at the last second an angel of the Lord called to him from heaven. "Don't lay a hand on the boy! Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son." Because of his actions God says " I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore." Can you imagine if God asked you to sacrifice your only child? Abraham being a strong man of God didn't even question it he got up the next morning and headed to perform the sacrifice. Now we are not asked to do anything so incredibly hard. How well to we measure up when God asks us to step up to the plate? Do we take the teachings of Jesus and put them into practice? Think about something you could do that would lift someones spirits. Maybe help at the dream center downtown or your local shelter, buy a homeless person lunch or a blanket. Heck help an old lady cross the street! I bet if you look around you'll see where you can help out and make a huge impact on someones life and believe it or not you'll feel better doing so:) Let's make the world a brighter place one small act of kindness at a time!
Jan 8 - Sodom & Gomorrah and Jusus Parables
Now Abraham starts bargaining with God to save Sodom and Gomorrah from being leveled but ultimately God is unable to even find 10 righteous people in Sodom so he burns it down. Angels are involved a lot with Abraham and Lot and his family. They come down and save Lot and his family from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. It's quite a disturbing story when the angels go to Sodom to look for 10 righteous people and how the towns people act. Now when the angels save Lot and his family they say don't look back his wife did look back and she turned to a pillar of salt. On top of all that craziness Lot's daughters get him drunk two nights in a row and take turns having sex with him so they can get pregnant because there are no men left anywhere in the area they live. I thought my family had issues...???
New Testament is full of great parables from Jesus. One of my favorites is Matthew 6:33 our church members know it well "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." It's become the staple for our church www.Celebration.org I also like the next verse 34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Todays' trouble is enough for today." That's a hard one to handle especially as you build a family and look for hopefully a nice retirement future and sending the kids to college. But a few verses back sums it up "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" No matter what you believe that single statement holds true for everyone. Ya know it definitely can't! Can certainly whack a few moments off your life though. You are far more valuable to God then anything else He has created, so here's some food for thought next time your in a jam....start with Matthew 6:33 give your mind a refresher on Matthew 6:34 and ultimately remember Matthew 6:27!
New Testament is full of great parables from Jesus. One of my favorites is Matthew 6:33 our church members know it well "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need." It's become the staple for our church www.Celebration.org I also like the next verse 34 "So don't worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Todays' trouble is enough for today." That's a hard one to handle especially as you build a family and look for hopefully a nice retirement future and sending the kids to college. But a few verses back sums it up "Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" No matter what you believe that single statement holds true for everyone. Ya know it definitely can't! Can certainly whack a few moments off your life though. You are far more valuable to God then anything else He has created, so here's some food for thought next time your in a jam....start with Matthew 6:33 give your mind a refresher on Matthew 6:34 and ultimately remember Matthew 6:27!
Jan 7 - Abraham slices up some foreskin....OUCH!
OK well this is interesting. So Sarai, Abrams wife, is so distraught that she can't bear children that she gives her husband, Abram, her Egyptian servant Hagar to do the naughty and she becomes pregnant for her. Sarai gets mad because Hagar treats her with contempt when she finds out she is pregnant. Hagar is met with an angel of the Lord and told she will give birth to a son name him Ishmael (which means 'God hears') now go back to your mistress and submit to her authority and I will give you more descendants than you can count. God makes a covenant with Abram that he will be the father of a multitude of nations. God changes his name from Abram to Abraham "for you will be the father of many nations." Sarai will now be named Sarah and will give birth to a son for you. You will name him Isaac and I will confirm my covenant with him and his dscendans as an everlasting covenant.
Sounds good until God gets to how Abraham must show a sign as the covenant. "Each male among you must be circumcised. You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth." On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. Now right when we're born, sure but when I'm 15, 20, 50, even 90 years old! I'm thinking Abraham left that tent with a black eye! It would take a lot of convincing for a guy to tell me that God wants me to give your penis a haircut. Now a days it's common place to have it done as an infant but is it done for cleanliness or is it still the covenant? I never knew why it was done but either way I'm glad the barber visited me as an infant.
In the new testament Jesus talks about praying in a specific way. I actually knew this prayer before I even knew Jesus. My grandmother a devout Catholic taught me the Our Father prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Praying is such a private personal thing for me. Boo and I pray together everynight and we learned from Bernie to also pray every night over our children. It's such a powerful connection with God and it's not meant to be as a showboat look at me I'm a good man praying to the Lord. In Matthew 6:5-8 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" In the end, for me, it's all about the heart. When I first became a Christian I was showing up to church as one person and trying to keep this false front while I went out and partied like an animal on weekends, tithing when I felt like it and my bible was out in front at church but stashed away at the house. "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." Where were my treasures in my partying friendships, clutching onto my money? Now that the front has become the reality I've never been happier nor live a more abundant life from the inside out not from the materialistic outside in. I still struggle with serving money somewhat now and again, always trying to make more to support my family not necessarily looking for Gods wisdom in business situations. We tithe 10% off the top without question and do a few other things that remind me that God is there why keep sweating the $$$$. What a powerful symbol $$$$$ just don't let it be the one you serve and not God.
Sounds good until God gets to how Abraham must show a sign as the covenant. "Each male among you must be circumcised. You must cut off the flesh of your foreskin as a sign of the covenant between me and you. From generation to generation, every male child must be circumcised on the eighth day after his birth." On that very day Abraham took his son, Ishmael, and every male in his household, including those born there and those he had bought. Then he circumcised them, cutting off their foreskins, just as God had told him. Now right when we're born, sure but when I'm 15, 20, 50, even 90 years old! I'm thinking Abraham left that tent with a black eye! It would take a lot of convincing for a guy to tell me that God wants me to give your penis a haircut. Now a days it's common place to have it done as an infant but is it done for cleanliness or is it still the covenant? I never knew why it was done but either way I'm glad the barber visited me as an infant.
In the new testament Jesus talks about praying in a specific way. I actually knew this prayer before I even knew Jesus. My grandmother a devout Catholic taught me the Our Father prayer in Matthew 6:9-13. Praying is such a private personal thing for me. Boo and I pray together everynight and we learned from Bernie to also pray every night over our children. It's such a powerful connection with God and it's not meant to be as a showboat look at me I'm a good man praying to the Lord. In Matthew 6:5-8 "When you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you. When you pray, don't babble on and on as people of other religions do. They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again. Don't be like them, for your Father knows exactly what you need even before you ask him!" In the end, for me, it's all about the heart. When I first became a Christian I was showing up to church as one person and trying to keep this false front while I went out and partied like an animal on weekends, tithing when I felt like it and my bible was out in front at church but stashed away at the house. "Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." Where were my treasures in my partying friendships, clutching onto my money? Now that the front has become the reality I've never been happier nor live a more abundant life from the inside out not from the materialistic outside in. I still struggle with serving money somewhat now and again, always trying to make more to support my family not necessarily looking for Gods wisdom in business situations. We tithe 10% off the top without question and do a few other things that remind me that God is there why keep sweating the $$$$. What a powerful symbol $$$$$ just don't let it be the one you serve and not God.
Jan 6 - Abrams people slaves for 400 years??
Talk about some bummer news to get from God himself! Abram had great favor with God and he was very wealthy with flocks of sheep, goats, herds of cattle and many tents. Abram had so much and his nephew Lot was also loaded with flocks and herds that the land they were living in couldn't support them both so Lot moved his tents to a place near Sodom(before God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah) and Abram went to Canann. The Lord spoke to Abram and said "Look as far as you can see in every direction-north and south, east and west. I am giving all this land, as far as you can see, to you and your descendants as a permanent possession. And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!" So Abram moved his camp to Hebron and settled near the oak grove belonging to Mamre.
Lot is then captured by some invaders when Abram finds out he rallies up 318 trained men who had been born into his household. He goes and kicks some butt, saves Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives as well as all the goods that had been taken. He banters back and forth with the king of Sodom very respectfully and hears from the Lord again sometime later. "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you and your reward will be great." What's his response "O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don't even have a son?" Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, "Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That's how many descendants you will have!" For the second time God had to tell Abram he would have kids. One of the Greats of the Bible constantly questioning God.
He also drops this little bombshell - Then the Lord said to Abram, "You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth. (As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.) After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction." So he's getting the entire picture laid out for him by God himself. You think that will bring up more questions for him?
How often do you question what the heck you are going through and why? Just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I get a free ride through this mist shot in the air we call life. Now Boo and I didn't have the issue with children at all. Eliana was born because she stopped taking birth control and we shared a cup of coffee and Pnut I think was because she slept on my pillow one night:) I swear the girl is a fertile as they come. I have gone through some stuff though that to me didn't make any sense at the time. There was absolutely no reason that I should be in the muck I was in......But I always have to remember that I can only see my speck I can't see the bigger picture. I look back on some situations and can see what was being done now. But I still question God on some others and I'm sure will question Him again. Does that make me a bad Christian to question God as to why I didn't get this or was stuck with that? Nope I think it makes me like many greats in the bible.....human.
Lot is then captured by some invaders when Abram finds out he rallies up 318 trained men who had been born into his household. He goes and kicks some butt, saves Lot with his possessions and all the women and other captives as well as all the goods that had been taken. He banters back and forth with the king of Sodom very respectfully and hears from the Lord again sometime later. "Do not be afraid, Abram, for I will protect you and your reward will be great." What's his response "O Sovereign Lord, what good are all your blessings when I don't even have a son?" Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him, "Look up into the sky and count the stars if you can. That's how many descendants you will have!" For the second time God had to tell Abram he would have kids. One of the Greats of the Bible constantly questioning God.
He also drops this little bombshell - Then the Lord said to Abram, "You can be sure that your descendants will be strangers in a foreign land, where they will be oppressed as slaves for 400 years. But I will punish the nation that enslaves them, and in the end they will come away with great wealth. (As for you, you will die in peace and be buried at a ripe old age.) After four generations your descendants will return here to this land, for the sins of the Amorites do not yet warrant their destruction." So he's getting the entire picture laid out for him by God himself. You think that will bring up more questions for him?
How often do you question what the heck you are going through and why? Just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I get a free ride through this mist shot in the air we call life. Now Boo and I didn't have the issue with children at all. Eliana was born because she stopped taking birth control and we shared a cup of coffee and Pnut I think was because she slept on my pillow one night:) I swear the girl is a fertile as they come. I have gone through some stuff though that to me didn't make any sense at the time. There was absolutely no reason that I should be in the muck I was in......But I always have to remember that I can only see my speck I can't see the bigger picture. I look back on some situations and can see what was being done now. But I still question God on some others and I'm sure will question Him again. Does that make me a bad Christian to question God as to why I didn't get this or was stuck with that? Nope I think it makes me like many greats in the bible.....human.
Jan 5 - English, Japanese, Chinese....huh?
So there was a time when everyone spoke the same language using the same words and we could all understand each other. They began to migrate east and found a piece of land in Babylonia and settled there. They said "Come let's build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world." You know the old saying tell God your plans it will make Him laugh? Well that's what happened here God came down and could see that the people were united and all spoke the same language and said "After this, nothing they set out to do will be impossible for them! Come, let's go down and confuse the people with different languages. Then they won't be able to understand each other." That is why the city was called Babel, (We watched the movie Babel, save yourself a couple of bucks and let that one go by) because that is where the Lord confused the people with different languages. In this way he scattered them all over the world. Now how weird would that be if Friday you're hanging out with all your buddies speaking the same language then on Saturday 1/2 your friends are speaking Japanese! It's funny how people always ask me if I'm going to learn Japanese. I'm still trying to figure out English and have my wife as a translator so I think no. But we are teaching the kids both languages. I do believe that in this day and age it is so important to be at least bilingual. If Vermont Hick ever becomes an official language I'll have my two done! The old testament this day also goes talks about Gods covenant with Abram to make him a great man and Abrams travels.
We mosey into the new testament and Jesus is talking about breaking a commandment so you have to present a sacrifice to the Lord...."So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God." Thank you God for your ultimate gift of your sons blood! We'll read later that the presentations of sacrifices are no longer needed as in the pre-Jesus days. How many times do you think you would have to leave the altar and return because someone popped into your head that you weren't right with! Well I guess we could now sit on the front steps and just shoot out "Forgive Me" and "I Forgive You" texts or Tweets......that I think would qualify??:)
Ultimately I think today is summed up best in what I see all around me. Yes I have some seriously crrrrrrrrrrrrappy days! I also have some Great days! But everyday I can see Psalm 5:12 "For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love." And that my friends is a fact!
We mosey into the new testament and Jesus is talking about breaking a commandment so you have to present a sacrifice to the Lord...."So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God." Thank you God for your ultimate gift of your sons blood! We'll read later that the presentations of sacrifices are no longer needed as in the pre-Jesus days. How many times do you think you would have to leave the altar and return because someone popped into your head that you weren't right with! Well I guess we could now sit on the front steps and just shoot out "Forgive Me" and "I Forgive You" texts or Tweets......that I think would qualify??:)
Ultimately I think today is summed up best in what I see all around me. Yes I have some seriously crrrrrrrrrrrrappy days! I also have some Great days! But everyday I can see Psalm 5:12 "For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love." And that my friends is a fact!
Jan 4 - Noahs old!
Noah lived to be 950! Yesterdays reading did have God stating that His spirit wouldn't put up with humans for a long time because we are only mortal flesh so he was changing the lifespan to 120 from the high triple digits. God had real favor with Noah and He was pleased with the aroma of the sacrifice Noah provided when the flood waters dried up therefore God said he would never flood us out again and gave us the rainbow as His promise. Then it was up to Noahs 3 sons and their wifes to start repopulating the earth! We have 2 kids can you imagine how many they had! I am extra tired tonight having a newborn is exhausting but worth ever minute of lost sleep. Maria has turned into a milk machine for the Eliana cafeteria and I'm supplementing with some formula each feeding until she gains some weight. They must have never slept. Anyway the new testament has Jesus begining to preach "Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near." He also started to gather his disciples and traveled throught the region of Galilee teaching in the synagogues and healing the sick, diseased, demon-posessed, epileptics even paralytics. In our day we don't have the luxury of actually walking with Jesus and seeing all of the miracles He performed we walk by faith. If we did would we be any more likely to believe? I have had great things happen in my life that there is no other explaination other then Gods favor. I had my own healing so to speak not touched by Jesus in the flesh but a touch from Jesus none the less.
Jan 3 - Noah builds a boat and Jesus gets tempted
Love this part of the Old Testament. I think it's so engrained in my mind because of the classic presentation of it by Bill Cosby: Noahs Ark One of the Greatest comedy shows of all time is Bill Cosby Himself! Best of all it's clean not full of cursing and crude comments. Well to imagine that because of the extent of human wickedness God wanted to completely wipe everyone and everything from existance. Luckly he found favor in Noah and gave him the knowledge and ability to build an Ark so He could flood out the earth and start over. We're all fairly familiar with Noahs story and the Rainbow that is God's promise that He will never flood the earth again. The new Testament today had Jesus being tempted by Satan. He passes of coarse but I can't imagine it was easy. For 40 days and 40 nights he was in the wilderness being tempted to sin. Interestingly enough God had it rain for 40 days and 40 nights to flood the earth as well. Not sure why maybe I'll look into it. Must be some reason God liked 40. 40 days! I tried to stay away from chocolate for 2010 because it gives me a wicked headache and that lasted all of 40 minutes! huh.....Wonder how well I would have done in the wilderness for 40 days with Satan and temptation. I probably would have turned the rock into a chocolate cake and dug in!
Jan 2 - Fall From Grace and lots of finger pointing
OK this is classic human nature playing out from the very beginning! God knows Adam and Eve have eaten from the one tree they were told to stay out of and when He asks Adam his answer is, "It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit and I ate it." So he's essentially blaming God. God asks the woman and she says "The serpent deceived me, That's why I ate it." In otherwords it's not my fault! You created the serpent and he tricked me. I can think of many times personally that when something went wrong I looked to where I can point to aim blame at someone else for messing up my situation. That Cafe I used to be involved with is one major one! I held on to the anger and the oooohhhh pity me for I've been done wrong, for so long that I didn't even want to hang out with myself! In the end I indirectly blamed God for not watching out for me. As if to say the serpent deceived me or she gave me the apple, even though I wasn't asking for His help or open to listening. Humbling myself to ask for direction from God and help from others hasn't been easy. The weirdness of kneeling down and talking to the air does eventually go away. It's hard for our minds to grasp that there is something out there bigger then us that we can't touch or see but I guarentee you that when your ready you will feel His preseance! Eliana's crying gotta go get myself wrapped around that little finger:)
Jan 1 - In The Beginning
So let the journey begin! What a long couple of days, our baby girl Eliana was born yesterday at 12:46PM. 10 fingers, 10 toes and a healthy appetite for moms milk! My wife is going to spread rumors that I almost passed out.....I was just a little tired and needed to lay down for a couple minutes. I was back in the game when the homerun was hit:) If any of you reading this have children then you know the incredible experience it is to create life with the person you love more then anything else in the world. Do it twice it's just as awesome:) To think that a night of rrrrrrrrrrr, hey, hey, hey created this new life.....amazing!
The version of the Bible I decided to read is the One Year Bible - New Living Translation. Reason being my wife bought it for my a couple years ago so technically it should be called the Three Year Bible in my case:) This Bible is set up to read some of old testament, new testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day this way I can get a snippet of everything everyday. And it's written in a form that's easy to understand, more modern English I guess I would say.
The first part of today's reading struck me the most it was all about the beginning of it all. It's mentioned a few times after God created something that he saw that it was good. I felt that yesterday in it's fullest form when Eliana was born, once they cleaned all the gook off:) I see it everyday in Pnut and my incredible marriage with my wife. My life was much different before I allowed God to continue His work on me. I still get in the way now and again. I have so many aspirations for my life and family, sometimes I veer off coarse a little going after those aspirations without His vision. I think God just kicks back with a double shot latte now and again, watching and waiting for us to realize that without His help we will never be fully satisfied. My hope is that he looks down on my family daily and through His eyes sees that it is good!
The version of the Bible I decided to read is the One Year Bible - New Living Translation. Reason being my wife bought it for my a couple years ago so technically it should be called the Three Year Bible in my case:) This Bible is set up to read some of old testament, new testament, Psalms and Proverbs each day this way I can get a snippet of everything everyday. And it's written in a form that's easy to understand, more modern English I guess I would say.
The first part of today's reading struck me the most it was all about the beginning of it all. It's mentioned a few times after God created something that he saw that it was good. I felt that yesterday in it's fullest form when Eliana was born, once they cleaned all the gook off:) I see it everyday in Pnut and my incredible marriage with my wife. My life was much different before I allowed God to continue His work on me. I still get in the way now and again. I have so many aspirations for my life and family, sometimes I veer off coarse a little going after those aspirations without His vision. I think God just kicks back with a double shot latte now and again, watching and waiting for us to realize that without His help we will never be fully satisfied. My hope is that he looks down on my family daily and through His eyes sees that it is good!
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